Machimus callidus (Williston)

Lavigne, Robert J. & Dennis, Steve, 2019, Robber flies (Insecta: Diptera: Asilidae) of Wyoming, USA with keys to genera and species, Zootaxa 4662 (1), pp. 1-126 : 45-46

Machimus callidus (Williston)

Tolmerus callidus Williston, 1893b: 75 .

Recognition characters: Blackish gray species; length 15–17 mm; mystax black above, white below; thorax gray pollinose laterally, brown pollinose dorsally; scutellar setae white, 2 black bristles; wings with brown aspect; abdomen gray pollinose with large brown pollinose areas dorsally; lateral setae on first abdominal segment white; legs reddish brown with femora black on anterior sides; hind femora usually black with preapical red band that occasionally may be indistinct.

Distribution: ALBANY: Laramie, 1.6 km E, numerous records, 24 June–28 July ( RJL, SD). FREMONT: Lander, WANG, LTA, 2 July 2005 ( CSU, GMAD). PARK: 1.6 km S Muddy Crk., 22 July 1964 ( CD, BD) (specimen in CAS). PLATTE: Camp Guernsey, WANG, 2001b ( CSU, GMAD). SUBLETTE: Pinedale, 16 km N, 30 July–1 Aug. 1968 ( WAN). TETON: Cottonwood Campground, Snake River Canyon, 20 Aug. 1963 ( LJS, RJL); Grand Teton National Park, 15 Aug. 1931, 26 July 1957 (A & HD - CU). YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK: 15–25 Aug. 1963 ( RCB); Fry Pan Lake, 15 Aug. 1931 ( RHB) (specimen in CAS). Recorded from Wyoming by: Dennis & Lavigne (1976b) (pupal case), (1979, 2007); Dennis et al. (2008) (pupal case); Evans (1970); Geller-Grimm (2018); Martin (1975) (new combination).

Habitat: Douglas fir forest (clearings within the forest where shrubs and grasses are dominant), sagebrush steppe and wheatgrass-needlegrass shrub steppe shrub and grassland vegetation types. Similar habitat to that of M. occidentalis (see Dennis & Lavigne 1979); rangeland bordering mixed coniferous forest (see Martin 1975).

Ethology: Forages from both the ground and vegetation, depending on the temperature of the ground (see Dennis & Lavigne 1979).

Prey: COLEOPTERA , DIPTERA , HEMIPTERA (Heteroptera, Homoptera) , HYMENOPTERA , LEPIDOP- TERA, NEUROPTERA (see Dennis & Lavigne 1979).