Mydas clavatus

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Clubbed mydas fly
Annual report of the State Entomologist of Minnesota to the Governor for the year .. (1905) (19180067480), Mydas clavatus.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Diptera
Family: Mydidae
Subfamily: Mydinae
Tribe: Mydini
Genus: Mydas
Species:
M. clavatus
Binomial name
Mydas clavatus
(Drury, 1773) [1]
Synonyms

Mydas clavatus, the clubbed mydas fly, is a species of Mydas fly that is native to temperate, eastern North America. It is named for its clubbed antennae, which is however a general feature of the Mydas flies. An orange to red mark on the abdomen is distinctive. It is a Batesian mimic of certain spider wasps, and is consequently quite bold in its movements. [4] [5] [6] Adults fly in mid-summer.

Contents

Description

Adult at Frozen Head State Park, Tennessee Mydas Fly (Mydas clavatus).jpg
Adult at Frozen Head State Park, Tennessee

They are large, black and somewhat glabrate flies that measure some 25 to 30 mm in length, with a wingspan that may exceed 50 mm. [4] A prominent orange to red mark is evident on the ventral side of the second abdominal segment. Their visual mimicry is apparently complemented by curling and jabbing of the abdomen in a mock stinging routine. [7]

Biology

The eggs are deposited singly in soil or rotting wood. [4] The larvae, as with M. brunneus and M. tibialis , are predatory on the larvae of deadwood-feeding scarab beetles ( Osmoderma species.) and can be found in standing and downed trees with extensive heart rot. The adults seem to be pollen and nectar feeders only, and have been observed at Asclepias , Saponana , Spiraea , Monarda , Pycnanthemum , Teucrium and Verbena flowers. [7] When not nectaring, adults may be seen resting on plants or actively running around on the ground. [8] Though the mating behaviour is unknown, it is suspected that males may defend the vicinity of larval food sources. [4]

Habitat

They are present in various habitats, including deciduous woodlands, fields, meadows, gardens, and other. [4]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mydas fly</span> Family of flies

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.

Opomydas is a genus of flies in the family Mydidae.

<i>Nemomydas</i> Genus of flies

Nemomydas is a genus of flies in the family Mydidae.

Mapinguari 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leptomydinae</span> Subfamily of flies

Leptomydinae is a subfamily of mydas flies in the family Mydidae.

<i>Mydas</i> Genus of flies

Mydas is a genus of flies in the family Mydidae.

Mydas tibialis, the golden legged mydas fly, is a species of mydas flies in the family Mydidae

Rhaphiomidas parkeri is a species of mydas flies.

Rhaphiomidas aitkeni is a species of mydas flies.

<i>Rhaphiomidas terminatus</i> Species of fly

Rhaphiomidas terminatus, the flower-loving fly, is a species of mydas fly. It is endemic to California.

Pseudonomoneura tinkhami is a species of mydas flies.

Messiasia is a genus of flies in the family Mydidae.

Pseudonomoneura californica is a species of mydas flies.

<i>Gauromydas</i> Genus of flies

Gauromydas is a genus of flies in the family Mydidae.

Baliomydas is a genus of flies in the family Mydidae.

Rhopaliinae is a subfamily of mydas flies in the family Mydidae.

Mitrodetus dentitarsis is a species of mydas flies in the family Mydidae.

Rhaphiomidas maehleri is a species of mydas flies.

Rhaphiomidas painteri is a species of mydas flies.

References

  1. 1 2 Drury, D. (1770–1773). Illustrations of natural history... Vol. 1. London: Printed for the author; sold by White. pp. xxviii + 130 pp., 4 figs., 50 pls.
  2. ↑ Fabricius, J.C. (1775). Systema entomologiae, sistens insectorum classes, ordines, genera, species, adiectis synonymis, locis, descriptionibus, observationibus. Flensbvrgi et Lipsiae [= Flensburg & Leipzig]: Kortii. pp. [32] + 832. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
  3. ↑ De Geer, C. (1776). Memoires pour servir a l'histoire des insectes. Stockholm: P. Hesselberg. pp. viii + 523 pp., 30 pls.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Cotinis; Moisset, Beatriz; McLeod, Robin (24 July 2015). "Species Mydas clavatus". BugGuide. Retrieved 12 February 2018.
  5. ↑ Wilcox, J.; Papavero, N.; Pimentel, T. (1989). Studies of Mydidae (Diptera). IVb. Mydas and allies in the Americas (Mydinae, Mydini). Belém: Museu Paraense Emilio Goeldi. pp. 139 pp.
  6. ↑ Artigas, Jorge N.; Papavero, Nelson (1990). "Studies on Mydidae Diptera v. Phylogenetic and biogeographic notes key to the American genera and illustrations of spermathecae". Gayana Zoología . 54: 87--116. Retrieved 2 June 2023.
  7. 1 2 Raupp, Michael J. (6 July 2015). "A fly with a golden touch? Mydas fly, Mydas clavatus". Bug of the week. Retrieved 12 February 2018.
  8. ↑ Padelford, Loren (2008). "Nature Search: Mydas clavatus". Fontenelle Forest. Retrieved 12 February 2018.
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