Promachus yesonicus, or shioya-abu (塩屋虻, シオヤアブ) in Japanese, is a species of robber flies. In Japanese, "shioya" means a salt merchant (someone who makes or deals in salt), and "abu" means a horse-fly. This insect is called "shioya-abu" because the males have a white tip to their tail that resembles salt.
| Promachus yesonicus | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Diptera |
| Family: | Asilidae |
| Genus: | Promachus |
| Species: | P. yesonicus |
| Binomial name | |
| Promachus yesonicus (Bigot, 1887) | |
Distribution
Promachus yesonicus is found throughout Japan from Hokkaido to Okinawa. They are visible from June to September.
Description
Male Promachus yesonicus have a white cotton-like bud at the end of their tails, while females do not. Adults can reach 23–30 millimetres (0.9–1.2 in) in length.[1]
- Female Promachus yesonicus in Tokyo
Female in Tokyo, Japan- Male in Tokyo, Japan
Male in Japan
Male in Fukuoka, Japan
References
Media related to Promachus yesonicus at Wikimedia Commons