Thyridanthrax andrewsi
(Hall, 1970)
bee fly
Thyridanthrax andrewsi is a of bee fly ( Bombyliidae) found in the western United States. The species was described by Hall in 1970 and is one of approximately 4,500 described species of bee flies worldwide. Members of this are known , with females depositing into the nests of solitary .
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Thyridanthrax andrewsi: /θaɪˌrɪdænˈθræks ˈændruːsi/
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Distribution
Known from California and Idaho in the western United States.
Host Associations
- Ammophila aberti - Females observed hovering over open nests and lobbing into tunnels; larvae develop as of the 's offspring
Behavior
Females exhibit aerial -laying , hovering over open nests of and depositing eggs into burrow entrances. This behavior has been documented in nesting of thread-waisted wasps.
Ecological Role
of solitary ; contributes to of in arid and semi-arid .
Similar Taxa
- Thyridanthrax fenestratumCongeneric with similar and ; distinguished by wing venation and abdominal patterning
- Other BombyliidaeBee flies share general body plan with stout, hairy bodies and long , but Thyridanthrax are distinguished by wing pattern with characteristic fenestrations or dark markings