Megaselia aurea

Megaselia aurea
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Diptera
Family:	Phoridae
Genus:	Megaselia
Species:	M. aurea
Binomial name
Megaselia aurea (Aldrich, 1896)
Synonyms [1]
Phora aurea Aldrich, 1896

Overview

Megaselia aurea is a species of scuttle flies (insects in the family Phoridae). ^{[1] [2] [3] [4]}

Biology

Megaselia aurea is a very small fly, only about 1–3 millimeters long. Like other phorid flies, it has a noticeable hump on its back. Instead of flying for long distances, these flies often move by making quick, short runs, this is why they're called "scuttle flies." The larvae usually grow in damp, decaying plants or animal material, feeding on it as they develop. Female M. aurea have been seen gathering together in groups on leaves, which is part of their mating behavior. The Megaselia group is one of the most diverse in the world, with thousands of species already named and many more that scientists are still discovering.

References

1. "Megaselia aurea Report". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 2018-05-03.
2. "Megaselia aurea species details". Catalogue of Life. Retrieved 2018-05-03.
3. "Megaselia aurea". GBIF. Retrieved 2018-05-03.
4. "Megaselia aurea Species Information". BugGuide.net. Retrieved 2018-05-03.

Further reading

• "Phorid.net, Online Data for Phorid Flies". Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County. Retrieved 2019-07-02.

External links

• Media related to Megaselia aurea at Wikimedia Commons
• Sivinski, J. (1988). Unusual female-aggregated mating systems in phorid flies. Journal of Insect Behavior, 1(1), 123-128. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01052509