Gauromydas heros | |
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Gauromydas heros | |
Scientific classification
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Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Insecta |
Order: | Diptera |
Family: | Mydidae |
Genus: | Gauromydas |
Species: | G. heros
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Binomial name | |
Gauromydas heros (
Perty, 1833)
| |
Synonyms | |
Gauromydas heros is a species of giant fly belonging to the family Mydidae. It is the largest species of the entire order of Diptera or true flies. [2]
This species has a Neotropical distribution ( Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay) and also in Colombia, in the latter country two populations were detected in Villavicencio, in the Department of Meta and in Manizales, in the Department of Caldas although there is a possibility that Gauromydas heros populations of Colombia are a different species. [1] [3] [4]
Gauromydas heros can reach a length of 7 centimetres (2.8 in) and a wingspan of about 10 centimetres (3.9 in). It is the largest fly known. The wing membrane is whitish, brown or orange, with a hyaline apex and a posterior margin. [3] [2]
Adult males are flower visitors, while females do not feed at all. Larvae live in the nest of ants ( Atta species), feeding on immature insects. Mature larva dig a pupation chamber in the soil, then the imago emerges. [3] [4]
Gauromydas heros | |
---|---|
| |
Gauromydas heros | |
Scientific classification
![]() | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Insecta |
Order: | Diptera |
Family: | Mydidae |
Genus: | Gauromydas |
Species: | G. heros
|
Binomial name | |
Gauromydas heros (
Perty, 1833)
| |
Synonyms | |
Gauromydas heros is a species of giant fly belonging to the family Mydidae. It is the largest species of the entire order of Diptera or true flies. [2]
This species has a Neotropical distribution ( Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay) and also in Colombia, in the latter country two populations were detected in Villavicencio, in the Department of Meta and in Manizales, in the Department of Caldas although there is a possibility that Gauromydas heros populations of Colombia are a different species. [1] [3] [4]
Gauromydas heros can reach a length of 7 centimetres (2.8 in) and a wingspan of about 10 centimetres (3.9 in). It is the largest fly known. The wing membrane is whitish, brown or orange, with a hyaline apex and a posterior margin. [3] [2]
Adult males are flower visitors, while females do not feed at all. Larvae live in the nest of ants ( Atta species), feeding on immature insects. Mature larva dig a pupation chamber in the soil, then the imago emerges. [3] [4]