Poecilanthrax californicus

(Cole, 1917)

Poecilanthrax californicus is a of in the , first described by Cole in 1917. As a member of the Poecilanthrax, it belongs to a strictly North group of bee flies whose develop as inside of various and (family ). The species epithet 'californicus' suggests a primary association with California, though specific details about its biology 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. are of ( and ), based on documented for the Poecilanthrax.

Host Associations

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

Life Cycle

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

Ecological Role

of , contributing to natural of these .

Similar Taxa

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

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Sources and further reading