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BugGuide Gathering
Smoky Mountains
University of Tennessee Biological Field Station
August 8-10, 2008
 
Photos from the gathering
 
Photos from the 2007 gathering in Minnesota

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Species Promachus bastardii

Classification
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Diptera (Flies)
No Taxon ("Orthorrhapha" (Brachycera excluding Aschiza and Schizophora))
Superfamily Asiloidea
Family Asilidae (Robber Flies)
Subfamily Asilinae
Genus Promachus (Giant Robber Flies)
Species bastardii (Promachus bastardii)
Other Common Names
False Bee-Killer
Size
Circa 20-30 mm
Identification
Similar to P. fitchii. Males have distinctive white tip on abdomen and white bands on thorax. See Internet references.
Range
Includes eastern, southeastern and south-central United States. Reported from Kansas, Texas, Arkansas, North Carolina, Michigan.
Habitat
Fields, open areas, with flowers
Season
June-July (North Carolina)
Food
Predatory, especially on hymenoptera
Print References
Salsbury, p. 397--description (2)
Brimley, p. 340, lists P. bastardii and P. rufipes for North Carolina. (3)
Internet References
North Carolina State University Entomology--17 pinned (only P. bastardii and P. rufipes are listed for the state).
Works Cited
1.National Audubon Society Field Guide to Insects and Spiders
By Lorus and Margery Milne
2.Insects in Kansas
By Glenn A. Salsbury and Stephan C. White
3.Insects of North Carolina
By C.S. Brimley