Pogonioefferia helenae (Bromley)

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 : 41

Pogonioefferia helenae (Bromley)

Erax helenae Bromley, 1951: 30 .

Recognition characters: Grayish brown species; length 17–24 mm; mystax white with few black bristles on oral margin; setae and bristles of mesonotum mostly black, some white bristles intermixed posteriorly, postpronotal and supraalar setae white; meral bristles white; scutellar setae mixed white and black, mostly black, marginal bristles white; in males abdominal tergites 2–5 black setae dorsocentrally, segments 6 and 7 silvery white pollinose; legs with femora black; tibiae black, posterior sides pale reddish brown, except the tips.

Distribution: FREMONT: Lander, WANG, LTA, 2 July 2005 ( CSU, GMAD); Riverton, 18 Sept. 1962 ( RJL). GOSHEN: 17 Aug. 1945 ( REP). HOT SPRINGS: Dutch Nick Flats, Big Horn Basin, 14 Sept. 1962 ( RJL). PLATTE: Camp Guernsey, WANG, 2001b ( CSU, GMAD); Chugwater, 5 Aug. 1954 ( WDF); Bowman Ranch, Dwyer, 17 Oct. 1963 ( RJL); Russell Ranch, Dwyer, 27 Aug. 1962 ( RJL); Dwyer, numerous records, 18 Aug.–8 Oct. ( RJL, REP); Glendo, 20 Aug.–11 Sept. 1957 ( DRT); Guernsey, Frederick Ranch, 25 Aug–9 Sept. 1960, 15 Aug.–13 Sept. 1962 ( RJL), 2 Sept. 1964 ( RJL, FRH); E flank of Laramie Peak, Laramie Mtns., 3 Sept. 1964 ( RJL, FRH); Wheatland Canyon, 5 Aug. 1960 ( RJL). Recorded from Wyoming by: Dennis & Lavigne [1975) (as prey of Proctacanthus milbertii (as Proctacanthus micans )], (1976b) (pupal case; as Efferia helenae ); Dennis et al. (2009) (as Efferia helenae ); Geller-Grimm (2018); Lavigne (1964) (as Efferia bicaudata ), 1992 (as Efferia helenae ); Lavigne & Dennis [1975) (as Efferia helenae ; prey of Pogonioefferia frewingi (as Efferia frewingi )], (1994) (as Efferia helenae ); Lavigne & Holland (1969) (as Efferia helenae ; as prey of Diogmites angustipennis ); Lavigne & Pfadt (1966) (grasshopper predator); Lavigne et al. (1994) (as prey of Efferia helenae ).

Habitat: Douglas fir forest (clearings within the forest where shrubs and grasses are dominant), and gramaneedlegrass-wheatgrass and grama-buffalo grass vegetation types. Open rangeland, the Wheatland area is characterized by blue grama ( Bouteloua gracilis ), little bluestem [ Schizachyrium scoparium (Michx.) Nash var. scoparium ( Andropogon scoparius Michx. )], and yucca ( Yucca glauca Nutt. ).

Ethology: Rests on and forages from ground, grass mat, and vegetation 12–60 cm above the ground (see Lavigne 1964 as Efferia bicaudata ; Lavigne & Holland 1969 as Efferia helenae ).

Prey: The following prey were collected 17 km NW of Wheatland on 21 Aug. 1972: DIPTERA , Asilidae : Pogonioefferia helenae (Bromley) ; HEMIPTERA (Homoptera) , Cicadellidae : Cuerna costalis (Fabricius) ; Gypona melanota Spangberg ; HYMENOPTERA , Sphecidae : Solierella sp.; Tiphiidae : Myzinum quinquecinctum (F.); Tiphia sp.; ORTHOPTERA , Acrididae : unidentified. COLEOPTERA , DIPTERA , HETEROPTERA, HOMOP- TERA, HYMENOPTERA , LEPIDOPTERA , NEUROPTERA, ODONATA, ORTHOPTERA (see note under P. bicaudata ). Most of the prey records in Lavigne (1964) as well as the biological observations refer to P. helenae instead of P. bicaudata ; see also Dennis et al. 2009; Lavigne 1992; Lavigne & Dennis 1994; Lavigne & Holland 1969; Lavigne & Pfadt 1966; Rogers & Lavigne 1972 (all as Efferia helenae ).