Mydas fly
Encyclopedia
The Mydidae or Mydas flies, are a small (fewer than 400 species), cosmopolitan family of rather large flies
- including, in fact, the largest known fly, Gauromydas heros (a.k.a. Mydas heros). Many of the species, in addition to their large size, are mimics of stinging Hymenoptera
ns, especially wasp
s. They are most diverse and abundant in arid regions of the world, but can be found in other habitats. They are infrequently encountered as the adult life span appears quite short, and little is known about their biology, though larvae of some species appear to be subterranean predators of ant
s.
The classification of the family has changed fairly recently, with the inclusion of a few genera that were previously placed in the family Apioceridae. This had an ironic twist to it, as the apiocerids have long been given the common name
"Flower-loving flies" - but the only "Flower-loving flies" that visited flowers are those which are now placed in the Mydidae. Among the flies that were transferred is the genus Rhaphiomidas
, which includes one of the only Diptera on the Endangered Species List (Rhaphiomidas terminatus abdominalis, a.k.a. the "Delhi Sands flower-loving fly
").
Fly
True flies are insects of the order Diptera . They possess a pair of wings on the mesothorax and a pair of halteres, derived from the hind wings, on the metathorax...
- including, in fact, the largest known fly, Gauromydas heros (a.k.a. Mydas heros). Many of the species, in addition to their large size, are mimics of stinging Hymenoptera
Hymenoptera
Hymenoptera is one of the largest orders of insects, comprising the sawflies, wasps, bees and ants. There are over 130,000 recognized species, with many more remaining to be described. The name refers to the heavy wings of the insects, and is derived from the Ancient Greek ὑμήν : membrane and...
ns, especially wasp
Wasp
The term wasp is typically defined as any insect of the order Hymenoptera and suborder Apocrita that is neither a bee nor an ant. Almost every pest insect species has at least one wasp species that preys upon it or parasitizes it, making wasps critically important in natural control of their...
s. They are most diverse and abundant in arid regions of the world, but can be found in other habitats. They are infrequently encountered as the adult life span appears quite short, and little is known about their biology, though larvae of some species appear to be subterranean predators of ant
Ant
Ants are social insects of the family Formicidae and, along with the related wasps and bees, belong to the order Hymenoptera. Ants evolved from wasp-like ancestors in the mid-Cretaceous period between 110 and 130 million years ago and diversified after the rise of flowering plants. More than...
s.
The classification of the family has changed fairly recently, with the inclusion of a few genera that were previously placed in the family Apioceridae. This had an ironic twist to it, as the apiocerids have long been given the common name
Common name
A common name of a taxon or organism is a name in general use within a community; it is often contrasted with the scientific name for the same organism...
"Flower-loving flies" - but the only "Flower-loving flies" that visited flowers are those which are now placed in the Mydidae. Among the flies that were transferred is the genus Rhaphiomidas
Rhaphiomidas
The mydid fly genus Rhaphiomidas contains fewer than 30 species/subspecies, all of them occurring in the desert regions of the southwestern United States and adjacent portions of northwestern Mexico...
, which includes one of the only Diptera on the Endangered Species List (Rhaphiomidas terminatus abdominalis, a.k.a. the "Delhi Sands flower-loving fly
Delhi Sands flower-loving fly
The Delhi Sands flower-loving fly is a mydid fly in the genus Rhaphiomidas, and the only fly presently on the Endangered Species List....
").