This page represents the following TreeOfLife-200M taxonomic path.[1]
Based on observations of preserved specimens, Apatolestes aitkeni exhibits the characteristic body form of a horse fly. The specimens display a robust thorax covered in fine, dense setae. The wings are clear and membranous, with distinct venation typical of the family Tabanidae. The abdomen is elongated and shows a pattern of coloration that appears to be composed of alternating darker and lighter bands or patches, providing a degree of camouflage. The head is dominated by large, compound eyes, which are a prominent feature of this species.[1]
Apatolestes aitkeni was described by the entomologist Cornelius B. Philip in 1941. The original description was published in the Bulletin of the Brooklyn Entomological Society.[2] It is currently recognized as an accepted species within the genus Apatolestes.[2]