Ospriocerus abdominalis (Say)

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 : 103

Ospriocerus abdominalis (Say)

Dasypogon abdominalis Say, 1823: 50 .

In Lavigne & Dennis (2017) this species was designated O. aeacus because Fisher & Wilcox (1997) indicated that abdominalis Say, 1824 was an invalid name and should be O. aeacus ( Wiedemann, 1828) . However, after careful review of literature we agree with Coquillet (1898) who was dealing with Ospriocerus and with abdominalis synonomy, and said that there was “...no necessity for replacing...” abdominalis with aeacus .

Recognition characters: Black species; length 15–20 mm; antennal style lacking; mystax black; thorax black; scutellar setae lacking; scutellar bristles black; wings dark brown; abdomen black with segments 3–6 orange dorsally; legs black.

Distribution: ALBANY: Laramie, 22 June 1955 ( RJF, MSU); 37 km S of Laramie, 4 July 1973 (SD, RJL); Pole Mtn., 10 July 1960 ( RJL). BIGHORN: Lovell, WANG, LTA, 2001b ( CSU, GMAD). CROOK: Sundance, 9 July 1980 ( RJL); Sundance, 11 km S, 10 July 1980 ( RJL); Devils Tower NW, about 1,219 m (4,000 ft), 1–13 July 1983 (Field Team Wyo.). FREMONT: near Lander, 1,524 –2,438 m (5,000 –8,000 ft), Aug. 1895 ( RM-UK); Riverton, 1 km NW, 16 June 1973 (SD). GOSHEN: Lingle, 14 June 1963 ( RJL); 17 June 1964 ( MMG). HOT SPRINGS: Owl Creek Mtns., Wing River Canyon, N end, 1,707 km (5,600 ft), 24 June 1961 ( RJL); Thermopolis, 2.3 km NW, 8 km NW, 25 June 1980 ( RJL). LARAMIE: Albin, 1 Aug. 1962 ( RJL); Pine Bluffs, 18 June 1963 ( LJS), 14 July 1966, 8–14 July 1967 ( RJL); LINCOLN: Cokeville, 25 June 1989 ( RJL). NATRONA: Casper, 8 km E, 18 July 1968 ( RJL). NIOBRARA: Lusk, 29 June 1941 ( REP); Manville, 13 Aug. 1947 ( DGD); Mule Creek Jct., 8.4 km S, 9 July 1980 ( RJL). Niobrara Co., 1 June 1949 ( DGD). PARK: Meeteetse, 24 km SE, 25 June 1980 ( RJL); 21 km E of Cody, 26 June 1980 ( RJL). PLATTE: Camp Guernsey, WANG, 2001a ( CSU, GMAD); Cherry Creek, SE of Wheatland, 13 July 1966 ( RJL); Chugwater, 31 Aug. 1951; Dwyer, numerous records, 3 June–13-July ( DRT, RJL); Glendo, 21 June 1963 ( LJS); 11 June 1964 ( REP); Gray Rocks, Ranch, Camp Guernsey, WANG, 25 June 2008 ( CSU, GMAD); Guernsey, numerous records, 22 June–3 Aug. ( FRH, LJS, RJL); Hartville, 14 June 1963 ( RJL); 9 July 1964 ( FRH, RJL); Hartville, 11 km N, 13–14 July 1968 ( RJL); 28 June 1972 (SD); Platte Co., 12 July 1944, 1 July 1951 ( REP). SHERIDAN: Sheridan, 10 km N, 10 June 1984 ( RJL, DR); Sheridan, 10 km N of I-90, Exit 16, 10 July 1984 ( RJL, DF) (disturbed land). TETON: Jenny Lake, July 1936 ( ESR) (specimen in CAS). WASHAKIE: 21 km S of Worland-Banks of Big Horn River, 26 May 1977 ( RJL) (mated pair). Recorded from Wyoming by: Adisoemarto (1967) (Carbon and Jackson Counties); Dennis et al. (2010); Geller-Grimm (2018); Lavigne & Dennis (1994).

Habitat: Pine-douglas fir forest (clearings within the forest where shrubs and grasses are dominant), saltbrushgreasewood shrub, sagebrush steppe and wheatgrass-needlegrass shrub steppe shrub and grassland, and gramaneedlegrass-wheatgrass, grama-buffalo grass and wheatgrass-needlegrass grassland vegetation types. Open range short grass plains (rangeland) area at elevations from 1,310 –2,438 m (4,300 –8,000 ft); short grass mountain meadows; one adult collected in alfalfa field.

Ethology: Rests on and forages from ground, dead grass clumps, and vegetation, usually 7.5– 15 cm above the ground.

Prey: COLEOPTERA , Meloidae : Epicauta atropos Pinto , Guernsey, 6 July 8, 20, 1962. COLEOPTERA , HE- MIPTERA (Homoptera) (see Dennis et al. 2010; Lavigne & Dennis 1994; Rogers & Lavigne 1972).