Hemipenthes edwardsii
(Coquillett, 1894)
Edwards's bee fly
Hemipenthes edwardsii is a bee fly in the Bombyliidae, found in western North America. Its larvae are hyper-, developing as parasites of ichneumon and tachinid fly larvae that themselves parasitize caterpillars of butterflies and moths. The was described by Coquillett in 1894 and is one of approximately 800 bee fly species in North America.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Hemipenthes edwardsii: /ˌhɛmɪˈpɛnθiːz ɛdˈwɔrdzi.aɪ/
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Distribution
Western United States and British Columbia, Canada.
Ecological Role
Larvae function as hyper-, parasitizing the larvae of ichneumon wasps, tachinid flies, and other parasitic insects that attack caterpillars of butterflies and moths. This places the at the fourth in involving lepidopteran .
Similar Taxa
- Hemipenthes eumenesSame , similar hyper-parasitic larval ; distinguished by distribution and subtle morphological differences
- Other Hemipenthes species-level characters including hyper-parasitic lifestyle; identification requires detailed examination of wing venation and body proportions