The Bombyliidae are a family of flies, commonly known as bee flies. Adults generally feed on nectar and pollen, some being important pollinators. Larvae are mostly parasitoids of other insects.
The Mydidae, or Mydas flies, are a cosmopolitan family of flies. It is a small family, with about 471 species described. They are generally large in size, including the largest known fly, Gauromydas heros. Many of the species, in addition to their large size, are mimics of stinging hymenopterans, especially wasps. Most mydids are found in arid and semiarid regions of the world, but they are also found in other habitats.
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. The adults are most commonly encountered in sand dune areas, and are typically only active for a few weeks each year, either in the spring or the fall; in some cases, more than one species can occur in the same dune system, but they are allochronic, each flying in different seasons. Almost nothing is known about their biology, though eggs or early instar larvae of some species are laid on the soil surface and appear to be attractive to ants, and are brought into the ant nest. The restriction to sand dune areas has unfortunately led a number of these flies to the brink of extinction, especially both subspecies of R. terminatus, and the species R. trochilus. While there is only one of these on the Endangered Species List, many of the remaining taxa - including a few that have not yet been named - are gravely imperiled, as they are restricted to small geographic areas, rendering them extremely vulnerable to habitat loss or disturbance. These habitats are heavily targeted for development, and even if not, activities such as sand mining or motorized off-roading are common, and render the habitat unsuitable for the survival of the flies.
Anthracinae is a subfamily of bee flies in the family Bombyliidae. There are more than 80 genera and 2,000 described species in Anthracinae.
Bombyliinae is a subfamily of bee flies in the family Bombyliidae. There are more than 70 genera in Bombyliinae.
Rhaphiomidas nigricaudis is a species of mydas flies.
Nemomydas is a genus of flies in the family Mydidae.
Ectyphinae is a subfamily of mydas flies in the family Mydidae. There are at least four genera in Ectyphinae.
Mydas is a genus of flies in the family Mydidae.
Rhaphiomidas parkeri is a species of mydas flies.
Rhaphiomidas aitkeni is a species of mydas flies.
Heteromydas is a genus of flies in the family Mydidae.
Rhaphiomidas terminatus, the flower-loving fly, is a species of mydas fly. It is endemic to California.
Rhaphiomidas acton is a species of mydas flies. There are three recognized subspecies.
Neorhaphiomidas is a genus of flies in the family Mydidae.
Diochlistus is a genus of flies in the family Mydidae.
Miltinus is a genus of flies in the family Mydidae.
Rhaphiomidas maehleri is a species of mydas flies.
Rhaphiomidas painteri is a species of mydas flies.
Rhaphiomidas socorroae is a species of mydas flies.
