Backomyia seminoensis
Lavigne, 1971
Wyoming Bandit
Backomyia seminoensis is a of robber fly in the Asilidae, described by Lavigne in 1971. It belongs to the small Backomyia, which is to western North America. The "Wyoming Bandit" reflects its known distribution in the Rocky Mountain region. Like other asilids, it is presumed to be an active aerial , though specific biological details remain poorly documented.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Backomyia seminoensis: /ˌbæk.oʊˈmaɪ.ə ˌsɛm.ɪˈnoʊ.ɛn.sɪs/
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Identification
Backomyia seminoensis can be distinguished from other Backomyia by characters of the male terminalia, particularly the shape of the hypandrium and surstyli, as detailed in the original species description. The Backomyia is characterized by a reduced number of scutellar bristles and distinctive leg spination patterns compared to related asilid genera. Specific external features separating B. seminoensis from its B. anomala and B. wyomingensis require examination of genitalic structures.
Habitat
Known from semi-arid grassland and sagebrush steppe in the Rocky Mountain region, at elevations characteristic of the high plains to foothill transition zone.
Distribution
Documented from Wyoming, USA, with the type locality in Seminole, Carbon County. The appears restricted to the north-central Rocky Mountain region.
Ecological Role
As a member of the Asilidae, this likely functions as an aerial of other insects, contributing to in grassland .
Similar Taxa
- Backomyia wyomingensisOverlapping distribution in Wyoming; distinguished by male genitalic , particularly the structure of the surstyli and hypandrium.
- Backomyia anomalaSympatric ; differs in details of the male terminalia and possibly in body size proportions.
More Details
Taxonomic history
The Backomyia was established by Wilcox in 1936 to accommodate previously placed in Proctacanthus and related genera. Backomyia seminoensis was described by Lavigne in 1971 as part of his revisionary work on western Nearctic Asilidae, increasing the genus to three species. The specific epithet refers to the type locality at Seminole, Wyoming.
Data deficiency
This has zero observations on iNaturalist and appears rarely collected. The original description remains the primary source of information, and no subsequent ecological or behavioral studies have been published.