| Afromosia barkemeyeri | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Diptera |
| Family: | Asilidae |
| Subfamily: | Laphriinae |
| Genus: | Afromosia Londt, 2015 |
| Species: | A. barkemeyeri |
| Binomial name | |
| Afromosia barkemeyeri Londt, 2015 | |
Afromosia barkemeyeri is a species of robber fly (family Asilidae), the sole member of the genus Afromosia. [1] The specific epithet honours Dr Werner Barkemeyer. [2]
The Asiloidea comprise a very large superfamily insects in the order Diptera, the true flies. It has a cosmopolitan distribution, occurring worldwide. It includes the family Bombyliidae, the bee flies, which are parasitoids, and the Asilidae, the robber flies, which are predators of other insects.
Harold Oldroyd (24 December 1913 – 3 September 1978) was a British entomologist. He specialised in the biology of flies, and wrote many books, especially popular science that helped entomology to reach a broader public. His The Natural History of Flies is considered to be the "fly Bible". Although his speciality was the Diptera, he acknowledged that they are not a popular topic: "Breeding in dung, carrion, sewage and even living flesh, flies are a subject of disgust...not to be discussed in polite society". It was Oldroyd who proposed the idea of hyphenating the names of true flies (Diptera) to distinguish them from other insects with "fly" in their names. Thus, the "house-fly", "crane-fly" and "blow-fly" would be true flies, while the "dragonfly", "scorpion fly" and so on belong to other orders. He also debunked the calculation that a single pair of house-flies, if allowed to reproduce without inhibitions could, within nine months, number 5.6×1012 individuals, enough to cover the Earth to a thickness of 14.3 m (47 ft). Oldroyd calculated that such a layer would only cover Germany, but remarked "that is still a lot of flies".
The Asilidae are the robber fly family, also called assassin flies. They are powerfully built, bristly flies with a short, stout proboscis enclosing the sharp, sucking hypopharynx. The name "robber flies" reflects their expert predatory habits; they feed mainly or exclusively on other insects and, as a rule, they wait in ambush and catch their prey in flight.
The Manx robber fly is one of 7,100 species of robber fly or Asilidae known throughout the world, and one of 28 asilids known to occur in the British Isles.
Lopesi may refer to:
Blepharotes is a genus of robber fly in the family Asilidae. Its members are found in Eastern Australia. They include the giant yellow robber fly Blepharotes coriarius, and B. splendidissimus.
Blepharotes splendidissimus is a robber fly in the family Asilidae found in eastern Australia. Recognised by its shiny black abdomen, it is the second largest of its genus. It was described by the German naturalist Christian Rudolph Wilhelm Wiedemann in 1830 as Laphria splendidissima.
Blepharotes coriarius, the giant yellow robber fly, is a species of large predatory fly from Australia in the family Asilidae. It was described by the German naturalist Christian Rudolph Wilhelm Wiedemann in 1830.
Machimus is a genus of flies in the family Asilidae, the robber flies and assassin flies. They can be found nearly worldwide, except in Australia and New Zealand. Most are native to the Palearctic realm and southern Asia.
Pegesimallus is a genus of robber flies.
Anisopogon may refer to:
Diogmites is a genus of mainly neotropical flies in the family Asilidae or robber flies.
Neoitamus melanopogon, commonly known by the name common robber fly, is a species of fly of Asilidae in the genus Neoitamus, found in both the principal islands of New Zealand.
Neomochtherus pallipes, the Devon red-legged robber fly, is a species of robber fly in the family Asilidae.
Diogmites neoternatus is a species of robber fly in the family Asilidae. Its genus name, Diogmites, refers to the peculiar habit of hanging by its foreleg while consuming prey.
Dioctria rufipes, the common red-legged robberfly, is a species of robber fly in the subfamily Dasypogoninae of the family Asilidae.
Mallophora ruficauda is a species of parasitic robber fly in the family Asilidae, endemic to South and Central America. Like other robber flies, M. ruficauda is known for its aggressive behavior and predation upon other insects, especially bees. M. ruficauda mimics a bumblebee to fool predators into thinking it has a painful sting and is not worth eating.
Hyperechia is a genus of robber flies in the family Asilidae. They appear large, stout and with legs covered in bristles and appear like carpenter bees in the genus Xylocopa and the resemblance is considered as a case of aggressive mimicry, providing protection from predators. The larvae of the fly feed on the larvae of Xylocopa within their cavity nests in wood. They are mainly found in the African and Madagascan region with about 15 species and two species in Asia.
Ktyr is an Old World genus in the robber fly family Asilidae.
Heteropogon may refer to:
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