Explanation of Names
Author of genus is Loew, 1848. Promachus is Latin for "fighter in the front ranks", an apt term for this pugnacious genus of very large robber flies. This was an epithet applied to Athena, goddess of wisdom and war. (Based on Internet searches.)
Numbers
Arnett
(1) gives 21 North American species, as does
nearctica.com .
Identification
Large robber-flies with tiger-stripe pattern on abdomen.
Range
Includes eastern, central, and southwestern North America.
Season
Summer, typically June-August in north. July-September (several species, Georgia), July-October (P. rufipes, North Carolina)
Food
Adults predatory, often on hymenoptera.
Life Cycle
Eggs are typically laid on ground near grass roots. Larvae burrow into soil, feed on soil insects, roots, and decaying matter. Pupation is in an unlined cell in the soil.
Print References
Arnett, p. 877, fig. 29.32--P. vertebratus
(1)
Swan and Papp, p. 611, fig. 1306--P. vertebratus
(2)
Milne, pp. 660-661, fig. 400--P. rodecki, fig. 401--P. fitchii
(3)
Salsbury, p. 397--photo P. hinei
(5)Internet References
North Carolina State University entomology collection lists just two species taken from the state, P. rufipes and P. bastardii. Herschel Raney (pers. comm. via Josh Rose) suggests that quadratus and fitchii likely occur in that state as well.
Giff Beaton--photos of several species from Georgia
Herschel Raney--good discussion of genus, with photos
Contributed by
Cotinis on 26 March, 2004 - 10:43pm
Additional contributions by
Beatriz MoissetLast updated 11 January, 2008 - 10:14am
