Author Institution: Bartlett Tree Research Laboratories, Stamford, Conn

Bromley, Stanley W.

The Ohio Journal of Science

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OHIO ROBBER FLIES IV(DIPTERA: ASILIDAE)STANLEY W. BROMLEY,Bartlett Tree Research Laboratories,Stamford, Conn.With the passing years a number of new Asilid records for the State of Ohiohave accrued. My "Preliminary Annotated List of the Robber Flies of Ohio"was published November 1, 1931, by the Ohio State Archaeological and HistoricalSociety. This publication listed a total of 65 species of this group of flies for Ohio.Subsequently "Additions to the Ohio List of Robber Flies," published in theOhio Journal of Science, vol. 33, no. 3, May, 1933, listed 5 more; "Additions tothe Ohio List of Robber Flies II," Ohio Journal of Science, vol. 34, no. 3, May,1934, listed 4 more and "Additions to the Ohio List of Robber Flies III," OhioJournal of Science, vol. 36, no. 3, May, 1936, listed 3 more, making a total of77 species as of 1936.Since then, 13 more species, the specimens now incorporated in the Ohio StateMuseum collection (Dr. E. S. Thomas in charge) or in the Ohio State Universitycollection in the Botany and Zoology Building (Dr. Josef Knull in charge) havebeen added.78. Dioctria baumhaueri Meigen. Columbus, Franklin County, June 27, 1937, collected byC. L. Ward. This is our only introduced Asilid—a common European species first foundin this country at Boston, Massachusetts, in 1916 by C. W. Johnson.79. Cyrtopogon laphrifonnis Curran. Hocking County, Ohio, May 23. D. J. and J. N. Knull.A beautiful grayish species with orange pile on the abdomen.80. Laphria ithypyga McAtee. Seven males, two females, Lancaster, June 15-27, 1943 and 1944.R. M. Goslin.Of the same size and appearance as index McAtee, but differs in the structure of the malegenitalia.81. Asilus maneei Hine. Mound City, August 10, 1941, R. M. Goslin, E. S. Thomas and S. W.Bromley. Eleven specimens, collected.A small blackish-gray species usually found resting on tree trunks.82. Leptogaster tenuipes Loew. Two females, July 22, 1944, Alum Creek, Columbus. R. M.Goslin.83. Leptogaster virgatus Coquillett. Ross County, Colerain Township, June 21, 1936. R. M.Goslin.84. Ceraturgus dimidiatus Macquart. Three males, two females, Wooster, Wayne County,June 15, 1937. Dale Jenkins and D. J. Borror. A male East Union, Wayne County,same date.Holmesville, Holmes County, 2 males, 2 females, June 15-20, 1937. R. T. Everly.85. Bombomima posticata Say. Hocking County, "Neotoma," May 24, 1936. E. S. Thomas.Same locality, June 6, 1936. D. W. Jenkins.86. Cerotainia albipilosa Curran. Athens, July 20. W. C. Stehr. I doubt if this is specificallydistinct from C. macrocera Say.87. Leptogaster favillaceus Loew. Newark, June 17, 1931. R. M. Goslin. Colerain, RossCounty, June 13, 1937. R. M. Goslin.88. Leptogaster eudicranus Loew. Delaware County, July 4. D. J. & J. N. Knull.89. Asilus virginicus Banks. "Neotoma," Hocking County, June 6, 1937. E. S. Thomas.90. Asilus erythocnemius Hine. Columbus, University Farm, August 5, 1943. Howard W.Smith.6768 STANLEY W. BROMLEY Vol. X L V I IAnother individual of the excessively rare Dasylechia atrox Williston wastaken on the O. S. U. Campus in Columbus flying around inside the class roomin the Botany and Zoology Building on July 5, 1942, by R. W. Strandtmann.Certain Asilids kill honey-bees and are known as "Bee-Killers." Twelvespecies have been taken with honey-bee prey in Ohio, but in no case were theflies sufficiently numerous to cause economic losses to apiarists.Bee-killers Number of honey-bee prey1. Promachus vertebratus Say 282. Mallophora orcina Wied 213. Diogmites discolor Loew 174. Promachus bastardii Macq 155. Diogmites umbrinus Loew 96. Bombomima thoracica Pabr 97. Promachus hinei Bromley 88. Proctacanthus milbertii Macq 49. Proctacanthus hinei Bromley 410. Proctacanthus duryi Hine 411. Promachus rufipes Fabr 112. Erax aestuans L 1Three species in the environs of Columbus were seen killing the honey-bee.These were Bombomima thoracica Fabr. found along the sunny edges of woods,orchards and around bee hives in May and June; Diogmites discolor Loew aroundrank herbage, flower gardens, edges of fields and woods, and in apiaries duringJuly and August; and Promachus vertebratus Say which occurs in clover fields, andiron-weed swales and pastures during August and early September.Bombomima thoracica Fabr. is a remarkable mimic of a female bumblebee andis the insect to which many bee-keepers refer when speaking of the "bumble-bee"that catches honey bees.In the Hocking Hills, 25 or 30 miles to the Southeast of Columbus, two otherbee-killers, in addition to the three above mentioned, are common. These areDiogmites umbrinus Loew and Promachus bastardi Macquart. Both frequentlyhaunt apiaries.In the Cincinnati area, in addition to the five preceding species, there arethree more, important bee-killers: Mallophora orcina Wied., the notorious "SouthernBee-killer," occurring in flower gardens, Joe-Pye weed swales, and around apiaries;Proctacanthus milbertii Macquart, the so-called "Missouri Bee-killer," whichactually feeds largely on grasshoppers and butterflies in old sandy Andropogonand goldenrod fields, only occasionally taking honey-bees; and Promachus hineiBromley, a large powerful robber fly frequently seen alighting on fence posts orbarbed wire along cultivated fields in low ground, swales, among moist or rankherbage, or in low open woodlands in alluvial somewhat sandy soil.The large red Proctacanthus hinei Bromley is found in sandy areas along LakeErie and the Ohio River, while the smaller tan-colored Proctacanthus duryi Hineoccurs in similar situations along the Ohio River. Both are Bee-killers.The two remaining species, each with a single honeybee record are worthy ofcomment. Promachus rufipes Fabr., the so-called "Bee Panther," common inthe South Atlantic coastal region, is rare in Ohio and confined to the Southeasternpart of the State, while Erax aestuans L. is a very common summer Asilid through-out most of the State. E. aestuans feeds largely on small Diptera, being par-ticularly fond of house and stable flies, and its capture of honey-bees is a rareoccurrence.

Ohio Robber Flies IV (Diptera: Asilidae)

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Ohio Robber Flies IV (Diptera: Asilidae)

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