Cyrtopogon willistoni Curran, 1922

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 : 73-74

Cyrtopogon willistoni Curran

Cyrtopogon willistoni Curran, 1922: 277 .

Recognition characters: Blackish species; length 14–17 mm; third antennal segment black; mystax yellowish white above, black below; thorax shining black with two thin brown and gray pollinose stripes dorsally; scutellar setae black; wings lightly tinged with brown; macrotrichia of costal vein black; abdomen black with short black setae dorsally; lateral setae on abdominal segments 1–4 yellowish white; legs, femora and tibiae black except hind tibiae which is black apically and reddish brown basally, tarsi black, fore tarsi of male with fringe of dense silvery white setae not parted in the middle.

Distribution: ALBANY: Pole Mtn., 2 July 1949 ( DGD), 8 July 1961, 17 June–2 July 1964 –65 ( RJL-FRH), 16 July 1967 ( RJL); 40 km E Laramie, 7 July 1965 ( RJL); 13 km S Laramie, 6 June 1976 ( VT); Laramie, 6 June 1976 ( VT); Medicine Bow Nat. For., 0.8 km SW of Lincoln Monument, meadow near mixed forest, 29–30 June 1992 ( SRS); BIGHORN: Big Horn Mtns., 12 July 1953 ( PBL-UK); Big Horn National For., 19 July 1957 ( AD & HD-CU); LARAMIE: Spring Creek, Pine Bluffs, 26 June 1967 ( RJL); SHERIDAN: Arrowhead Lodge, Big Horn Mtns., 21 July 1953 ( PBL-UK). TETON: Death Canyon, Grand Tetons, 14 July 1941 ( CPA); Grand Tetons, 4 July 1942 ( CPA); Grand Tetons National Park, 21 June 1930 ( ECVD) (12 specimens in CAS), 23 June 1938 ( ECVD) (16 specimens in CAS), 24 June 1938 ( ECVD) (specimen in CAS), 28 June 1938 ( ECVD) (two specimens in CAS); Holly Lake Trail, Grand Tetons National Park, 2,134 m (7,000 ft), 30 July 1963 ( JGE); Jackson Hole, 23 June 1938 ( ECVD) (specimen in CAS), 28 June 1938 ( ECVD) (four specimens in CAS); Jenny Lake, Grand Tetons, 25 June 1938 ( ECVD) (four specimens in CAS); Teton Pass, 16 July 1937 ( WNB: J. Wilcox record). WAHSAKIE: 13 km E of Big Trails, 2,286 m (7,500 ft) 25 June 1961 ( RJL); Tensleep, 25 June 1961 ( RJL). YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK: Lower Geyser Basin, Aug. 1931 ( VMT-BYU); Mammoth Hot Springs, 27 June 1930 ( ECVD) (specimen in CAS); Roosevelt Camp, 26 June 1930 ( ECVD) (three specimens in CAS); Roosevelt Lodge, 1 July 1938 ( ECVD) (six specimens in CAS); Tower Falls, 23 June 1941 ( CPA); YNP USA / 44°11’N 110°38E, 15 July 1989, Forest Glen. Recorded from Wyoming by: Adisoemarto (1967) (Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park; Grand Teton National Park); Cole (1969); Dennis & Lavigne (2007); Geller-Grimm (2018); Lavigne & Dennis (1994); Lavigne & Holland (1969); Martin & Wilcox (1965); Wilcox & Martin (1936) [Grand Teton National Park, 21 June 1930 (E.C. Van Dyke); Yellowstone National Park, 20 July 1930, Roosevelt Camp. 25 June 1930, and Mammoth Hot Springs, 27 June 1930 (E.C. Van Dyke)].

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. Open areas at the edge of mixed coniferous forests and in mountain meadows at an elevation of 2,286 –2,438 km (7,500 –8,000 ft) above sea level (see Lavigne & Holland 1969).

Ethology: Forages from sand and rocks, and from low shrubs and sticks; courtship (see Lavigne & Holland 1969).

Prey: DIPTERA , Bibionidae : Bibio albipennis Say, Bigtrails , 25 June 1961 (two records): HYMENOPTERA , Ichneumonidae : Netelia sp. DIPTERA , HYMENOPTERA (see Dennis & Lavigne 2007; Lavigne & Dennis 1994; Lavigne & Holland 1969).