Explanation of Names
Cryptus albitarsis (Cresson, 1864)
albitarsis = from the Latin albi ('white') + Ancient Greek ταρσός ('tarsi' or 'the flat of the foot')
Identification
Males are most readily diagnosed and are noted for their prominent white hind tarsi and red abdomens. Females have entirely black bodies and legs apart from a red abdomen and typically with wings subhyaline to weakly infuscate. Though there are several species with similarly colored females, this is the most prevalent across its range.
Food
Hosts include Helicoverpa zea, Grapholita molesta, and some other common agricultural pests.
Remarks
Images of some other species of Cryptus would be difficult to distinguish from albitaris, but C. albitarsis is very common and the probability is high that all or most of the images that have been moved to this BG taxon are C. albitarsis.
Contributed by
Bob Carlson on 6 November, 2009 - 1:07pm
Additional contributions by
PaleoJonLast updated 14 March, 2021 - 7:41am