Gauromydas heros
Gauromydas heros
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Diptera
Family: Mydidae
Genus: Gauromydas
Species:
G. heros
Binomial name
Gauromydas heros
(Perty, 1833)
Synonyms
  • Mydas heros Perty, 1833
  • Mydas praegrandis Austen, 1909
  • Gauromydas praegrandis (Austen, 1909)
  • Gauromydas praegrandis (Austen, 1909) [1]

Gauromydas heros is a species of giant fly belonging to the family Mydidae. It is the largest species of the entire order of Diptera or true flies.

Distribution

This species has a Neotropical distribution (Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay).[1][2]

Mounted specimen

Description

Gauromydas heros can reach a length of 7 centimetres (2.8 in) and a wingspan of about 10 centimetres (3.9 in). It is the largest fly known. The wing membrane is whitish, brown or orange, with a hyaline apex and a posterior margin.[2]

Biology

Adult males are flower visitors, while females do not feed at all. Larvae live in the nest of ants (Atta species), feeding on immature insects. Mature larva dig a pupation chamber in the soil. Then the imago emerges.[2]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Asiloid Flies
  2. 1 2 3 Calhau Julia, Lamas Carlos José Einicker, Nihei Silvio Shigueo Review of the Gauromydas giant flies (Insecta, Diptera, Mydidae), with descriptions of two new species from Central and South America Magnolia Press, New Zealand ISSN 1175-5326 doi=10.11646/zootaxa.4048.3.3
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