Brachystoma occidentale
Melander, 1902
Brachystoma occidentale is a of dance fly in the Brachystomatidae, first described by Melander in 1902. The species name "occidentale" refers to its western distribution in North America. Dance flies in this family are predatory as and are commonly found in moist near streams and wetlands. Limited observational data exists for this species, with 27 observations recorded on iNaturalist.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Brachystoma occidentale: /brəˈkɪstəmə ɒksɪˈdɛnteɪli/
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Habitat
Moist environments near streams, wetlands, and other freshwater typical of the Brachystomatidae .
Distribution
Western North America, as indicated by the epithet "occidentale" (western).
More Details
Taxonomic Status
Brachystoma occidentale is currently accepted as a valid , though it has been listed as a synonym in some sources (Catalogue of Life). NCBI places this species in Empididae rather than Brachystomatidae, reflecting ongoing taxonomic debate about the classification of dance flies. GBIF and iNaturalist recognize Brachystomatidae as the family.
Etymology
The specific epithet "occidentale" is Latin for "western," indicating the geographic region where the was first described or is primarily found.