Machimus | |
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Machimus arthriticus | |
Scientific classification ![]() | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Insecta |
Order: | Diptera |
Family: | Asilidae |
Subfamily: | Asilinae |
Genus: | Machimus Loew 1849 |
Species | |
Many, see text |
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. [1] Most are native to the Palearctic realm and southern Asia. [2]
As of 2013 there were approximately 188 described species in the genus. [1]
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.
Alcimus is a genus of flies in the family Asilidae, the robber flies and assassin flies. There are about 26 species which are native to the Afrotropics.
Machimus novaescotiae is a species of robber flies in the family Asilidae.
Eudioctria is a genus of robber flies in the family Asilidae. There are about 14 described species in Eudioctria.
Neomochtherus is a genus of robber flies in the family Asilidae. There are at least 140 described species in Neomochtherus.
Stenopogon is a genus of robber flies, insects in the family Asilidae. There are at least 200 described species in Stenopogon.
Machimus sadyates is a species of robber flies in the family Asilidae.
Machimus erythocnemius is a species of robber flies in the family Asilidae.
Asilus is a genus of robber flies in the family Asilidae. There are at least 150 described species in Asilus.
Machimus callidus is a species of robber flies in the family Asilidae.
Diogmites texanus is a species of robber flies in the family Asilidae.
Machimus notatus is a species of robber flies in the family Asilidae.
Machimus adustus is a species of robber flies in the family Asilidae.
Machimus antimachus is a species of robber flies in the family Asilidae.
Machimus elegans is a species of fly in the family Asilidae, the robber flies and assassin flies. It is found in the Near East.
Machimus setibarbus is a species of fly in the family Asilidae, the robber flies and assassin flies.
Machimus atricapillus is a Palearctic species of robber fly in the family Asilidae.
Machimus rusticus is a Palearctic species of robber fly in the family Asilidae.