Explanation of Names
Paranthaclisis Banks, 1907
Numbers
4 spp. worldwide, all found in our area:
(1)(2)(3)
1. P. congener (Hagen, 1861): AZ, CA, NM, OR, UT, WA
2. P. floridensis Stange & Miller, 2012: FL
3. P. hageni (Banks, 1899): AZ, CA, NM, TX
4. P. nevadensis Banks, 1939: CA, NV
Identification
Descriptions, illustrations, and maps of the four species are found in Diehl (2012).
Paranthaclisis is distinguished from
Vella in having predominantly a single row of costal cells (entirely so in the 3 western species; only proximal two-thirds in the eastern
P. floridensis).
(3)
Larvae are distinguished from all other genera in having a singular mandibular tooth.
(1)(4)
Western Species
P. congener: mesoscutellar rim with yellow stripe; mesoscutum with long setae both white and black; abdomen with pale markings
P. hageni: mesoscutellar rim entirely dark; mesoscutum with long setae both white and black; abdomen entirely gray
P. nevadensis: mesoscutellar rim entirely dark; mesoscutum with long setae only white; abdomen with pale markings
Eastern Species
P. floridensis: mesoscutellar rim entirely dark; mesoscutum with long setae both white and black; abdomen entirely gray; distal third of costal region with 2 rows of cells
Range
1 sp. in FL + 3 in the w. US, south into Mexico
(2)(3)Habitat
sandy regions with deep sand dunes
(3)Food
Larvae have been raised on soft-bodied insects in laboratory settings.
(4)Life Cycle
Larvae of
P. floridensis are known from coastal sand dunes. They're capable of moving in both forward and backward directions, unlike many allied genera.
(4)
