Related Research Articles
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 notoriously aggressive predatory habits; they feed mainly or exclusively on other insects and, as a rule, they wait in ambush and catch their prey in flight.
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. Most are native to the Palearctic realm and southern Asia.
Laphria is a genus described by Johann Wilhelm Meigen in 1803, belonging to the family Asilidae, subfamily Laphriinae. Members of this genus are known as bee-like robber flies. This genus has a Holarctic distribution, occurring in Europe, Asia, and North America. They prey on a variety of insects, including other robber flies, bees, wasps and beetles. Like other asilids, they use their proboscis to penetrate the body of their prey and inject enzymes which dissolve the tissues.
Choerades is a genus of robber flies described by Francis Walker in 1851, belonging to the family Asilidae, subfamily Laphriinae.
Diogmites is a genus of mainly neotropical flies in the family Asilidae or robber flies.
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.
Cyrtopogon is a genus of robber flies in the family Asilidae. There are at least 120 described species in Cyrtopogon.
Stenopogon is a genus of robber flies, insects in the family Asilidae. There are at least 200 described species in Stenopogon.
Saropogon is a genus of robber flies. There are at least 120 described species in Saropogon.
Microstylum is a genus of robber flies in the family Asilidae. There are at least 130 described species in Microstylum.
Omninablautus is a genus of robber flies in the family Asilidae. There are at least four described species in Omninablautus.
Wyliea is a genus of robber flies in the family Asilidae. There is at least one described species in Wyliea, W. mydas. The name came from C.H. Martin’s wife, Dorothy Wylie Martin, who was a collector of Asilidae.
Asilus is a genus of robber flies in the family Asilidae. There are at least 150 described species in Asilus.
Leptogaster is a genus of robber flies in the family Asilidae. There are at least 260 described species in Leptogaster.
Sintoria is a genus of robber flies. There are about six described species in Sintoria.
Echthodopa is a genus of robber flies in the family Asilidae. There are at least four described species in Echthodopa.
Tipulogaster is a genus of robber flies. There are at least two described species in Tipulogaster.
Lestomyia is a genus of robber flies in the family Asilidae. There are about six described species in Lestomyia.
Afromosia barkemeyeri is a species of robber fly, the sole member of the genus Afromosia. The specific epithet honours Dr Werner Barkemeyer.