Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 2, 2026

Poecilanthrax

Poecilanthrax is a large, primarily Nearctic genus of flies belonging to the family Bombyliidae.

Last revised
Jul 2, 2026
Read time
≈ 3 min
Length
600 w
Citations
8
Source
Poecilanthrax
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Clade: Pancrustacea
Class: Insecta
Order: Diptera
Family: Bombyliidae
Subfamily: Anthracinae
Tribe: Villini
Genus: Poecilanthrax
Osten Sacken, 1886
Type species
Anthrax alcyon
Say, 1825

Poecilanthrax is a large, primarily Nearctic genus of flies belonging to the family Bombyliidae.

These are large to large robust flies with a body length of 8–14 mm. They have large elongate pictured wings, with 2 or 3 submarginal cells and no vein M2. The abdomen is moderately lengthened, with 7 visible tergites. The front tarsi are reduced, and the tibia smooth.1 The larvae feed on the moth larva of members of the family Noctuidae. Adults feed on pollen.1

Poecilanthrax eremicus nectaring on California Buckwheat near the visitor center of Devil's Punchbowl, Pearblossom, California source ↗
Poecilanthrax apache in Sheldon National Antelope Refuge, Nevada, US source ↗

Species

Data sources: i = ITIS,4 c = Catalogue of Life,5 g = GBIF,6 b = Bugguide.net7

References

References

  1. Hull, F.M. (1973). Bee flies of the world. The genera of the family Bombyliidae. Washington: Smithsonian Institution Press. pp. 687 pp. ISBN 0-87474-131-9.
  2. "World Catalog Family Bombyliidae Latreille (part 1 (Oligodraninae through Bombyliinae, p. 1-206)" (PDF). Bishop Museum. 1999. pp. 1–206. Retrieved 12 January 2009.
  3. "World Catalog Family Bombyliidae Latreille (part 1 (Oligodraninae through Bombyliinae, p. 1-206) - Revised Edition" (PDF). Bishop Museum. September 2003. pp. 1–206. Retrieved 12 January 2009.
  4. "Poecilanthrax Report". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 2018-05-04.
  5. "Browse Poecilanthrax". Catalogue of Life. Retrieved 2018-05-04.
  6. "Poecilanthrax". GBIF. Retrieved 2018-05-04.
  7. "Poecilanthrax Genus Information". BugGuide.net. Retrieved 2018-05-04.