Rhaphiomidas | |
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Rhaphiomidas acton | |
Scientific classification ![]() | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Insecta |
Order: | Diptera |
Family: | Mydidae |
Subfamily: | Rhaphiomidinae |
Genus: | Rhaphiomidas Osten Sacken, 1877 [1] |
Type species | |
Rhaphiomidas episcopus Osten Sacken, 1877 [1] | |
Synonyms | |
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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. [4] 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 (it therefore seems likely that the larvae are predators of the ant brood). [5] 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 ( Rhaphiomidas terminatus abdominalis , a.k.a. the "Delhi Sands Flower-loving fly"), 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 (less than 500 square miles (1,300 km2), sometimes much less), 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.
The family affiliation of the genus has changed fairly recently, as it had been previously placed in the family Apioceridae, or "flower-loving flies" - but, despite the transfer, the name "flower-loving flies" is nonetheless still used to refer to various species of Rhaphiomidas.
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 Delhi Sands flower-loving fly is a subspecies of flower-loving fly, a member of the genus Rhaphiomidas in the Mydidae family. It was the first fly added to the Endangered Species List in the United States.
The Apioceridae, or flower-loving flies, are a small family of flies, all in the single genus Apiocera. They occur mostly in dry, sandy habitats in the deserts of North America, South America, and Australia. Other genera formerly placed in Apioceridae are now in Mydidae.
Brennania is a genus of flies in family Tabanidae. It was originally known as Comops, created as a subgenus of Apatolestes by Brennan (1935). Philip (1941) then raised it to genus level, but renamed it to Brennania.
Villa is a genus of flies belonging to the bee-fly family (Bombyliidae). They range in size from 5 to 17 millimetres, and have typically rounded heads. The males of some species have a brilliant mat of silvery patagial scales. About 270 Villa species are found on all continents except Antarctica. They can be distinguished from similar genera (Hemipenthes) by their wing venation.
Spilomyia is a genus of hoverflies. Many species in the genus show Batesian mimicry of wasp models, including black and yellow patterns and modified antenna shape.
Hemipenthes is a large genus of flies belonging to the family Bombyliidae (bee-flies). There are many described species, distributed throughout the Holarctic realm. These are small to large robust flies with a body length of 5–14 mm. They can be distinguished from similar genera (Villa) by their wing venation. A number of species formerly in this genus were moved to a separate genus, ins in 2020.
Anthracinae is a subfamily of bee flies in the family Bombyliidae. There are more than 80 genera and 2,000 described species in Anthracinae.
Rhaphiomidas nigricaudis is a species of mydas flies.
Caloparyphus is a genus of flies in the family Stratiomyidae.
Rhaphiomidas parkeri is a species of mydas flies.
Rhaphiomidas aitkeni is a species of mydas flies.
Rhaphiomidas terminatus, the flower-loving fly, is a species of mydas fly. It is endemic to California.
Messiasia is a genus of flies in the family Mydidae.
Rhaphiomidas acton is a species of mydas flies. There are three recognized subspecies.
Total of 245 species either found or highly expected to be found in New York.
Rhaphiomidas maehleri is a species of mydas flies.
Rhaphiomidas painteri is a species of mydas flies.
Rhaphiomidas socorroae is a species of mydas flies.