Tiger-beetle-parasite
Guides
Anthracinae
bee flies
Anthracinae is a subfamily of bee flies (family Bombyliidae) comprising more than 80 genera and at least 380 described species. The subfamily includes well-known genera such as Anthrax and Hyperalonia, many of which are parasitoids of other insects. Larval stages are typically endoparasites or ectoparasites of soil-dwelling hosts including tiger beetles, ground-nesting bees, and wasps. Adult flies are often bee-mimics in appearance and are commonly observed hovering or feeding at flowers.
Anthracini
Anthracini is a tribe of bee flies within the family Bombyliidae, subfamily Anthracinae. The tribe contains at least nine genera, with Anthrax being the most species-rich and well-studied. Members are primarily known as parasitoids, with larvae developing on or within host insects. The Australian fauna has been extensively revised, revealing substantial cryptic species diversity previously hidden under single species names.
Anthrax albofasciatus
Anthrax albofasciatus is a species of bee fly in the family Bombyliidae, subfamily Anthracinae. The genus Anthrax comprises parasitoid flies whose larvae attack immature stages of other insects, including tiger beetle larvae and solitary bee larvae. Adults are typically observed at flowers where they feed on nectar using an elongated proboscis. The species has a broad distribution across North America, Central America, and the Caribbean.
Pterombrus
Pterombrus is a genus of small, slender wasps in the family Thynnidae (formerly placed in Tiphiidae). The genus contains at least one described species, Pterombrus rufiventris, which is a rare parasitoid of tiger beetle larvae. These wasps are poorly known and seldom photographed, with most biological knowledge derived from a single detailed study of the western subspecies P. rufiventris hyalinatus. Adults are active during summer months and are associated with grassland habitats where their hosts occur.
Pterombrus rufiventris
Pterombrus rufiventris is a parasitoid wasp in the family Thynnidae, native to North America. The species is notable for its specialized life history as a parasite of tiger beetle (Cicindela) larvae. It is considered rare but has been documented across a wide geographic range from southern California to Texas and eastward to Georgia and Virginia. The species exhibits sexual dimorphism typical of thynnid wasps, with wingless females and winged males. Two subspecies are recognized: the nominate form in the eastern range and P. r. hyalinatus in the western portion of its distribution.