Scleropogon neglectus (Bromley)

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 : 106-107

Scleropogon neglectus (Bromley)

Stenopogon neglectus Bromley, 1931b: 430 .

Recognition characters: Gray species; length 23–27 mm; mystax straw white; short bristles anteriorly on mesonotum reddish brown, long straw white bristles posteriorly, postpronotal bristles long, stout, yellowish anteriorly, thin, short and whitish posteriorly; metapleural bristles thin, straw white; first posterior cell of wing open; abdomen gray pollinose; male genitalia dark brown to black, apex of epandrium broadly rounded, lobes of hypandrium roughly triangular with straight edge apically and cleft shallowly between, see S. graminis .

Distribution: ALBANY: Rock River, 13 Aug. 1963 ( LJS). BIG HORN: Greybull, 7 Sept. 1965 ( RJL); Lovell, WANG, LTA, 2 July 2005 ( CSU, GMAD). CARBON: base of Elk Mtn., numerous records 6 July–25 Aug ( RJL, SD), FREMONT: Gas Hills, Road, Riverton, 4–27 Sept. 1963; 31 Aug. 1964 ( RJL); Riverton, 3 Aug. 1955 ( GEB); holotype, near Lander, 1,524 –2,438 m (5,000 –8,000 ft), July ( RM) ( OS, CATIC);, topotypes, 3.2 km N of Lander, 7 Aug. 1968 ( RJL) (mated pair male and female specimens in CAS); Shoshone National For., Horse Creek Campground, 21 July 1957 ( AD, HD) (specimen in CAS). LARAMIE: Medicine Bow Mtns., Summit, 2,633 m (8,640 ft), 29 July 1974 ( PSB) (specimen in CAS). PARK: North Fork of Shoshone River, Rt. 14–20 crossing, 21 Aug. 1963 ( LJS, RJL). PLATTE: Dwyer, 28 June–5 July 1961 ( RJL, REP); Guernsey, numerous records, 21 June–6 July ( RJL, REP); Wheatland, 23 June 1964 ( RJL, REP). SUBLETTE: 70 km W of South Pass City, 7 Aug. 1968 ( RJL). TETON: Jackson, 14 Aug. 1964 ( FRH, RJL); Teton National For., 14 Aug. 1964; 17–20 Aug. 1965 ( FRH, RJL), 3 Aug. 1972 ( SD). YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK: Mammoth Hot Springs Camp, 23 July 1957 ( AD, HD) (specimen in CAS); Roaring Mtn., 2,286 m (7,500 ft), 25 July 1923 ( HCS). Recorded from Wyoming by: Adisoemarto (1967) (Lander, Jackson, Carbon County); Bromley (1931b) (type series near Lander, August, YNP; as Stenopogon neglectus ); Cole (1969) (as Stenopogon neglectus ); Dennis & Lavigne (1975) (as prey of Stenopogon inquinatus ); Dennis et al. (2009, 2010); Geller-Grimm (2018); Lavigne (1992); Lavigne & Dennis (1994); Martin & Wilcox (1965) (as Stenopogon neglectus ); Wilcox (1971).

Habitat: Saltbrush-greasewood shrub, sagebrush steppe shrub and grassland, and grama-needlegrass-wheatgrass grassland vegetation types. Open rangeland, Artemisia tridentata .

Ethology: Rests on and forages from sagebrush, low-growing vegetation and ground (see Dennis & Lavigne 1975).

Prey: ORTHOPTERA , Acrididae : Melanoplus cinereus Scudder , 5.6 km NW Riverton, 12 Aug. 1981 ( RJL); Shoshoni, 16 km S, 19 Aug. 1992 ( RJL). HEMIPTERA (Heteroptera) , Pentatomidae : Chlorochroa sp. prob. sayi Stål. COLEOPTERA , DIPTERA , EPHEMEROPTERA , HEMIPTERA (Heteroptera, Homoptera) , HYMENOP- TERA, LEPIDOPTERA , NEUROPTERA, ODONATA, ORTHOPTERA (see Dennis & Lavigne 1975; Dennis et al. 2009, 2010; Lavigne 1992; Lavigne & Dennis 1994; Lavigne & Pfadt 1966 as Stenopogon neglectus ).