Pogonioefferia helenae (Bromley)

Erax helenae Bromley, 1951: 30 .

Recognition characters: Grayish brown species; length 17–24 mm; mystax white with few black bristles on oral margin; setae and bristles of mesonotum mostly black, some white bristles intermixed posteriorly, postpronotal and supraalar setae white; meral bristles white; scutellar setae mixed white and black, mostly black, marginal bristles white; in males abdominal tergites 2–5 black setae dorsocentrally, segments 6 and 7 silvery white pollinose; legs with femora black; tibiae black, posterior sides pale reddish brown, except the tips.

Distribution: FREMONT: Lander, WANG, LTA, 2 July 2005 (CSU, GMAD); Riverton, 18 Sept. 1962 (RJL). GOSHEN: 17 Aug. 1945 (REP). HOT SPRINGS: Dutch Nick Flats, Big Horn Basin, 14 Sept. 1962 (RJL). PLATTE: Camp Guernsey, WANG, 2001b (CSU, GMAD); Chugwater, 5 Aug. 1954 (WDF); Bowman Ranch, Dwyer, 17 Oct. 1963 (RJL); Russell Ranch, Dwyer, 27 Aug. 1962 (RJL); Dwyer, numerous records, 18 Aug.–8 Oct. (RJL, REP); Glendo, 20 Aug.–11 Sept. 1957 (DRT); Guernsey, Frederick Ranch, 25 Aug–9 Sept. 1960, 15 Aug.–13 Sept. 1962 (RJL), 2 Sept. 1964 (RJL, FRH); E flank of Laramie Peak, Laramie Mtns., 3 Sept. 1964 (RJL, FRH); Wheatland Canyon, 5 Aug. 1960 (RJL). Recorded from Wyoming by: Dennis & Lavigne [1975) (as prey of Proctacanthus milbertii (as Proctacanthus micans)], (1976b) (pupal case; as Efferia helenae); Dennis et al. (2009) (as Efferia helenae); Geller-Grimm (2018); Lavigne (1964) (as Efferia bicaudata), 1992 (as Efferia helenae); Lavigne & Dennis [1975) (as Efferia helenae; prey of Pogonioefferia frewingi (as Efferia frewingi)], (1994) (as Efferia helenae); Lavigne & Holland (1969) (as Efferia helenae; as prey of Diogmites angustipennis); Lavigne & Pfadt (1966) (grasshopper predator); Lavigne et al. (1994) (as prey of Efferia helenae).

Habitat: Douglas fir forest (clearings within the forest where shrubs and grasses are dominant), and gramaneedlegrass-wheatgrass and grama-buffalo grass vegetation types. Open rangeland, the Wheatland area is characterized by blue grama ( Bouteloua gracilis), little bluestem [ Schizachyrium scoparium (Michx.) Nash var. scoparium ( Andropogon scoparius Michx.)], and yucca ( Yucca glauca Nutt.).

Ethology: Rests on and forages from ground, grass mat, and vegetation 12–60 cm above the ground (see Lavigne 1964 as Efferia bicaudata; Lavigne & Holland 1969 as Efferia helenae).

Prey: The following prey were collected 17 km NW of Wheatland on 21 Aug. 1972: DIPTERA, Asilidae: Pogonioefferia helenae (Bromley); HEMIPTERA (Homoptera), Cicadellidae: Cuerna costalis (Fabricius); Gypona melanota Spangberg; HYMENOPTERA, Sphecidae: Solierella sp.; Tiphiidae: Myzinum quinquecinctum (F.); Tiphia sp.; ORTHOPTERA, Acrididae: unidentified. COLEOPTERA, DIPTERA, HETEROPTERA, HOMOP- TERA, HYMENOPTERA, LEPIDOPTERA, NEUROPTERA, ODONATA, ORTHOPTERA (see note under P. bicaudata). Most of the prey records in Lavigne (1964) as well as the biological observations refer to P. helenae instead of P. bicaudata; see also Dennis et al. 2009; Lavigne 1992; Lavigne & Dennis 1994; Lavigne & Holland 1969; Lavigne & Pfadt 1966; Rogers & Lavigne 1972 (all as Efferia helenae).