Poecilanthrax californicus

(Cole, 1917)

Poecilanthrax californicus is a of bee fly in the Bombyliidae, first described by Cole in 1917. As a member of the Poecilanthrax, it belongs to a strictly North American group of bee flies whose larvae develop as inside caterpillars of various cutworms and armyworms (family Noctuidae). The species epithet 'californicus' suggests a primary association with California, though specific details about its and distribution remain limited in available sources.

Poecilanthrax californicus 339112319 by jcowles. Used under a CC BY 4.0 license.Poecilanthrax californicus P1500962a by xpda. Used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Poecilanthrax californicus: /ˌpiːsɪˈlænθræks ˌkælɪˈfɔːrnɪkəs/

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

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Distribution

California and western North America, based on epithet and distribution patterns. The genus Poecilanthrax is most diverse in the Great Basin region, with species distributed from Canada south through Central America.

Diet

likely feed on nectar from flowers. Larvae are of noctuid caterpillars (cutworms and armyworms), based on documented for the Poecilanthrax.

Host Associations

  • Noctuidae - larval Larvae develop as inside caterpillars of cutworms and armyworms; this is documented for the Poecilanthrax generally

Life Cycle

Complete with , larva, pupa, and stages. Larval development occurs inside caterpillars. Specific details for P. californicus are not documented, but are (one per year) in natural .

Ecological Role

of noctuid caterpillars, contributing to natural of these herbivores.

Similar Taxa

  • Poecilanthrax luciferBoth are large bee flies in the same with black and yellow tomentose patterning; P. lucifer is distinguished by conspicuous black and yellow crossbands on the and yellow or tan bases of larger wing
  • Other Poecilanthrax speciesApproximately 35 in the , many with similar overall bee fly ; species-level identification requires examination of specific pattern details and wing venation coloration

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Sources and further reading