Noctuidae-parasite
Guides
Poecilanthrax lucifer
Poecilanthrax lucifer is a species of bee fly (family Bombyliidae) in the genus Poecilanthrax, a strictly North American group. Adults are distinguished by conspicuous black and yellow tomentose crossbands on the abdomen and yellow or tan bases on the larger wing veins that contrast with the remainder of the wing pattern. The species has a notably wide distribution, occurring in the West Indies, southern Gulf States, Central America, and northward into Arkansas and southern Illinois. Larvae develop as parasites inside caterpillars of cutworms and armyworms (family Noctuidae), with documented hosts including fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda). Uniquely among its genus, P. lucifer has also been reported as a hyperparasite of Myzine haemorrhoidalis (family Tiphiidae), a primary parasite of white grubs (genus Phyllophaga) in Puerto Rico.