Laphria felis (Osten-Sacken)

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 : 90

Laphria felis (Osten-Sacken)

Lampria felis Osten-Sacken, 1877: 286 .

Recognition characters: Black and orange species; length 11–15 mm; mystax black; thorax shining black; marginal scutellar bristles black, no bristles or setae on scutellar disc; wings brownish; abdominal segments 1 and 2 black, segments 3–7 completely orange; lateral setae of abdominal segment 1 black; legs reddish to blackish, underside of hind femora orange, setae on legs white, bristles black.

Distribution: CARBON: Elk Mtn., 11 July 1972 ( RJL); 19 July–7 Aug. 1972 (SD). TETON: Curtis Canyon near Jackson, 2,499 m (8,200 ft), 31 June 3 1963 ( JGE). Recorded from Wyoming by: Adisoemarto (1967) (Yellowstone National Park, as Laphria xanthippe ); Geller-Grimm (2018); Lavigne & Dennis (1994) (as Laphria xanthippe ); Martin & Wilcox (1965); McAtee (1918) (Yellowstone National Park; as Laphria felis felis ).

Habitat: Douglas fir forest and pine- douglas fir forest (both in clearings within the forest where shrubs and grasses are dominant), and sagebrush steppe shrub and grassland vegetation types. Clearings within mixed coniferous forests.

Ethology: Rests on and forages from fallen logs and tree stumps in sun.

Prey: COLEOPTERA (see Lavigne & Dennis 1994, as Laphria xanthippe ).