Hi, Ron; Andy's comment seems to fit my beast... mine is very dark and I've lightened it as described. I'd like to see more images of said autumnalis... That said: where would I find Poecilanthrax autumnalis Species in the Taxonomy?

Thanks!

All I can suggest is to try online.

Ron; not trying to be difficult, but just curious, why would you think it's not Poecilanthrax alcyon? (just looking at the data map and the images, is it possible some of the images in there are lightened?) (specifically looking at http://bugguide.net/node/view/760242/bgimage ... mine was on a cloudy day with a white backdrop, the one referred to from Manitoba appears to be in the sun (lighter due to that?)

.

Again, a guess, but I believe Andy is talking plumper and darker than P. alcyon.

Well, in general I'd say it IS darker and definitely plumper. I shall keep a better eye out for these, it isn't the first time I've seen them, only the first time photographed. They spook at the slightest approach and are hard to zoom in on.

Ahh! - Gotcha. OK online I've only found:

"
http://hbs.bishopmuseum.org/bombcat/worldcat1.pdf

Page 175

Bombylius autumnalis Pallas & Wiedemann in Wiedemann, 1818a: 23. TYPE LOCALITY: “In aridus australibus, circa Volgam et Caspium” [= Russia (CET or SET) (see Pont, 1995: 151)] [1S in ZMHB*; S in NMW (see Note 20)].
Systeochus autumnalis var. albibarbisEngel, 1935: 281. TYPE LOCALITY: “Brussa” [=Turkey] [4S in NMW]. [Preoccupied by Zetterstedt, 1849.]
DISTRIBUTION: Palaearctic: Algeria, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, France, Gruzia, Hungary, Iran, Italy (incl. Sicily), Kazakhstan, Moldova, Romania, Russia (CET, SET), Slovakia, Spain, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine. "

Does not mention Canada. This document isn't local to the above locations: other Distributions include Canada for other Genuses. So I'm not sure what it's all about.

That leads me to a bugguide question. What does it take to have a Species added? Haven't encountered this and not even sure if I should be expecting you to answer - would you know how that happens here? Do I ask in a forum? Thanks!

That's typically done after you've shot the insect and it's been IDed.

I've had very mixed results with the forum and back up anything I request there with a comment at the post along the lines of: "If an editor sees this, this is a new species for Bug Guide and it needs a new page." That works best for me. (I've had a request languishing in the forum for two weeks now without even an indication of action, while others have had their requests filled.)

so then whereas you say "I'll bet accurate guess..." my next step is to contact Andy and ask him to take a look? for a "more" solid ID? Will try that. Hope I'm interpreting this all correctly. My apologies if not! :)

Received an email from Joel K who says: "Your mystery Poecilanthrax (821649) appears to be P. alcyon. Among other things, notice that P. autumnalis has much more red on the sides of the abdomen, and the wings have dark spots around the crossveins in the center of the wing, while this whole are is mostly dark in P. alcyon"