Dicropaltum mesae (Tucker)

Tolmerus mesae Tucker: 92.

Recognition characters: Grayish brown species; length 7–10 mm; mystax white; thorax largely yellowish brown pollinose; scutellum gray pollinose, setae white, bristles 2 white; wings hyaline, very faintly clouded apically; abdomen yellowish brown pollinose; legs with femora black, tibiae and tarsi reddish brown, setae and bristles white, exceptionally numerous on femora.

Distribution: ALBANY: Bosler, 13 July 1937 (CLJ, RHB-UK); Centennial, 2 Aug. 1960 (RJL); Laramie, 5 Aug. 1949 (RHB-UK), 2–8 July 1973 (SD). BIG HORN: Greybull Airport, 16 June 1966 (RJL). CARBON: Rawlins, 26 June 1920 (AMNH). FREMONT: Gas Hills Road, Riverton, 11 June 1963 (LJS, RJL); 11 km SW of Shoshoni and 16 km S of Shoshoni, numerous records, 3 June–17 July (FRH, LR, RJL, SD). GOSHEN: 2 July 1943; 2 July 1944; 18–19 July 1945 (REP). JOHNSON: 24 km S of Buffalo, 23 June 1943 (REP). LARAMIE: 22 July 1944 (REP). NATRONA: Casper, 3 June 1960 (CH); Rte. 220, Casper Jct., 24 June 1964 (FRH, RJL). NIOBRARA: Lusk, 14 July 1937 (RHB-UK); 6 July 1946 (REP); Manville, 24 June 1949; 14 July 1947 (REP); 2–9 July 1943; 18 July 1945; 18 July 1952 (REP). PARK: Horse Creek Campground, Shoshone National For., 21 July 1957 (AD & HD-CU); Laramie, 5 Aug. 1949 (RHB-UK); 2–8 July 1973 (SD). PLATTE: Dwyer, numerous records, 3 June–11 Aug. (DRT, REP, RJL); Camp Guernsey, WANG, 2001b (CSU, GMAD); Gray Rocks Ranch, Camp Guernsey, 25 June–5 Aug. 2008 (CSU, GMAD); Guernsey, numerous records, 31 May–28 July (REP, RJL); Hartville, 9 July 1964 (RJL); 11–14 July 1944; 4 July 1945; 20 June–10 July 1951 (REP); Pruitt Ranch, 22 June 1966 (NM); Wheatland, 14 July 1937 (RHB-UK). SHERIDAN: 6 June 1939 (REP); Sheridan, WANG, LTA, 15 June 2007 (CSU, GMAD). SWEETWATER: 16 km W of Farson, 20 July 1965 (GEB, PT) (specimen in CAS); Green River, 2 July 1920 (AMNH); Wamsutter, 21 June 1950 (CHM). Recorded from Wyoming by: Adisoemarto (1967) (Green River, Rock Springs, Rawlins, Carbon County, as Asilus mesae); Cole (1969) (as Asilus mesae); Dennis & Lavigne (1975) (as Asilus mesae; as prey of Ospriocerus latipennis, Proctacanthella cacopiloga); Geller-Grimm (2018); Lavigne & Holland (1969) [as Asilus mesae; as prey of Pogonioefferia staminea (as Efferia staminea)]; Lavigne et al. (1976) [as Asilus mesae; as prey of Pogonioefferia benedicti (as Efferia benedicti)]; Martin (1975).

Habitat: Saltbrush-greasewood shrub, sagebrush steppe shrub and grassland, and grama-needlegrass-wheatgrass grassland vegetation types. Open range, short- to mid-grass plains and greasewood.

Ethology: Forages from both the ground and vegetation, depending on the temperature of the ground surface (see Dennis & Lavigne 1975).

Prey: DIPTERA, HETEROPTERA, HOMOPTERA, HYMENOPTERA, LEPIDOPTERA, ORTHOPTERA (see Dennis & Lavigne 1975 and Rogers & Lavigne 1972, both as Asilus mesae).