Pogonioefferia pallidula (Hine)

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 : 42

Pogonioefferia pallidula (Hine)

Erax pallidulus Hine, 1911a: 309 .

Recognition characters: Silver and gray species; length 12–20 mm; mystax white; bristles and setae of mesonotum mostly black, some white posteriorly, postpronotal setae white anteriorly, black posteriorly; meral bristles white; scutellar setae and bristles white; male abdominal segments 3–7 silvery white pollinose with long white setae parted in the middle; legs with femora black, tibiae and tarsi brown. Females of this species are easily separated from those of staminea , the former having short white setae both dorsally and ventrally on the apex of the ovipositor while the sides of the ovipositor of the latter appear pitted and the short white setae occurs only ventrally.

Distribution: BIG HORN: Lovell, WANG, LTA, 2001a. GOSHEN: Smith Ranch, Lingle, 11 July 1963, 8 July 1964 ( RJL). LARAMIE: Pine Bluffs, 3 July 1963 ( LJS). PLATTE: Camp Guernsey, WANG, 2001b ( CSU, GMAD); Chugwater, 24 July 1953 ( REP); Dwyer, numerous records, 9 July–27 Aug. ( DRT, RJL); Frederick Ranch, Guernsey numerous records, 6 July–31 Aug. ( FRH, RJL); Guernsey State Park, Guernsey, 13 July 1962 ( RJL); Oregon Trail Park, Guernsey, 29 June-15 July 1972 ( SD); Register Cliff, 1,981 m (6,500 ft) E of Guernsey, 15 July 1964 ( RJL, FRH); 11 km N of Hartville, on Manville Rd., 14–19 June 1963 ( RJL); Loomis Ranch, 13 km NE of Wheatland, 18 July 1963 ( RJL). Recorded from Wyoming by: Dennis & Lavigne (2007) (as Efferia pallidula ); Dennis et al. (2009, 2010) (as Efferia pallidula ); Fisher & Wilcox (1997) (as Efferia pallidula ); Geller-Grimm (2018); Lavigne & Dennis (1994) (as Efferia pallidula ); Lavigne & Holland [(1969) (as Efferia pallidula ; as prey of Pogonioefferia helenae (as Efferia helenae ) and Pogonioefferia staminea (as Efferia staminea )].

Habitat: Saltbrush-greasewood shrub, and grama-needlegrass-wheatgrass and grama-buffalo grass grassland vegetation types. Open rangeland, blue grama grass ( Bouteloua gracilis (Wild. ex Kunth) Lag. ex Griffiths ) and threadleaf sedge ( Carex filifolia Nutt. ) communities.

Ethology: Rests on and forages from soil grass mat and other vegetation (see Lavigne & Holland 1969, as Efferia pallidula ).

Prey: The following prey were collected at Oregon Trail Park near Guernsey: DIPTERA , Bombyliidae : Villa (Villa) sp., 30 June 1972; HYMENOPTERA , Formicidae : Formica sp. (winged reproductive), 15 July 1972; LEPI- DOPTERA, Noctuidae : Ogdoconta sp., 29 June 1972. COLEOPTERA , DIPTERA , HEMIPTERA (Heteroptera, Homoptera) , HYMENOPTERA , LEPIDOPTERA , NEUROPTERA, ORTHOPTERA (see Dennis & Lavigne 2007; Dennis et al. 2009, 2010; Lavigne & Dennis 1994; Lavigne & Holland 1969; Lavigne & Pfadt 1966; Rogers & Lavigne 1972, all as Efferia pallidula ).