analis complex

The name "analis complex" was used by Curran and later Ravlin and Stehr(1) to refer to a group of oft-confused species related to Archytas analis. This group includes the majority of North American Archytas (Archytas). Species have a dull, olive to yellow thorax, dark and shining abdomen, and only pale hairs on the face. The fifth tergite may have a pair of pale spots on the sides. The species apicifer and californiae are widespread and common. Nivalis is rare and eastern. A. analis only reaches the United States in southern Arizona and Texas. A. lobulatus, which may be only a variant of apicifer, is limited to southern Texas.

Larvae are parasitoids of Noctuoidea, including armyworms. They overwinter as larvae inside overwintering hosts, so there are as many generations of flies per year as moths. Adults feed on nectar.