Machimus prairiensis (Tucker)

Lavigne, Robert J. & Dennis, Steve, 2019, Robber flies (Insecta: Diptera: Asilidae) of Wyoming, USA with keys to genera and species, Zootaxa 4662 (1), pp. 1-126 : 48

Machimus prairiensis (Tucker)

Tolmerus prairiensis Tucker, 1907: 93–94 .

Recognition characters: Brownish species; length 15–18 mm; mystax straw white with 2 or 3 black bristles above; thorax gray and brown pollinose; scutellum brown pollinose, setae white bristles 2 white; wings with brownish aspect; abdomen brown pollinose; legs brownish yellow, femora black anteriorly, hind tarsus black anteriorly, setae and bristles of legs straw white.

Distribution: ALBANY: Bosler, 8 Aug. 1968 ( RJL); Rock River, July 1913 ( SJH-UK); 3 Aug. 1962 ( RJL). FREMONT: near Lander, 1,524 –2,438 m (5,000 –8,000 ft), two in June, three in July, and one in Aug. ( RM-UK). GOSHEN: Hawk Springs, 25 July 1963 ( LJS). NIOBRARA: 48 km N of Lusk, July 1895. PLATTE: Wheatland, 24 July–8 Aug. 1962 ( RJL), 11 Sept. 1964 ( FRH, RJL). SHERIDAN: Sheridan, WANG, LTA, 29 July–13 Aug. 2010 ( BCK, DAL) ( CSU, GMAD); SUBLETTE: S of Pinedale, 24 July 1968 ( RJL). SWEETWATER: Rock River ( RJL). Recorded from Wyoming by: Lavigne & Holland (1969) [as Tolmerus prairiensis , as prey of Pogonioefferia helenae (as Efferia helenae )].

Habitat: Sagebrush steppe shrub and grassland and grama-needlegrass-wheatgrass grassland vegetation types. Areas where Artemisia sp. is dominant.

Ethology: Nothing known.

Prey: None known.