Ospriocerus longulus
(Loew, 1866)
Ospriocerus longulus is a of robber fly in the Asilidae. It belongs to the Dasypogoninae. The species was originally described by Loew in 1866 under the name Stenopogon longulus. Robber flies in this are predatory insects that capture other flying insects in . The genus Ospriocerus contains species distributed across western North America, with some species representing significant range extensions when found in relictual prairie .
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Ospriocerus longulus: //ˌɒspriˈoʊsɛrəs ˈlɔŋɡjələs//
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Distribution
Western North America; specific range details for O. longulus are not well documented in available sources. Related in the , such as O. abdominalis, are known from grassland and prairie including the Great Plains and loess hilltop prairie remnants.
Similar Taxa
- Ospriocerus abdominalisCongeneric with similar large size and -mimetic coloration; O. abdominalis has black body and wings with red abdominal coloration, and was documented as a new state record in Missouri in 2009, representing a significant eastern range extension for the .
- Wyliea mydasWestern robber fly with similar mimetic, -like coloration presumably modeled after spider wasps (Pompilidae); distinguished by wholly black and red wings, whereas Ospriocerus typically show red on the abdomen.
- Mydas clavatusMydas fly that may be confused with large robber flies due to similar size and coloration; distinguished by elongate clubbed versus the short antennae of Asilidae.