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]
| 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)
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| Synonyms | |
Distribution
editThis species has a Neotropical distribution and is found in 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]
Description
editGauromydas 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]
Biology
editAdult 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]
See also
editReferences
edit
- ^ a b Asiloid Flies
- ^ a b Alomía, Camila (2024-04-12). "La mosca más grande del mundo mide 7 centímetros y está en tres países de Sudamérica". larepublica.pe (in Spanish). Retrieved 2024-04-12.
- ^ a b c Calhau Julia, Lamas Carlos José Einicker, Nihei Silvio Shigueo Review of the Gauromydas giant flies (Insecta, Diptera, Mydidae), with descriptions of two new species from Central and South America Magnolia Press, New Zealand ISSN 1175-5326 doi=10.11646/zootaxa.4048.3.3
- ^ a b Mándor, William; E, Julián A. Salazar (2015-01-01). "Presencia de Gauromydas heros (Perty, 1833) (DIPTERA: MYDIDAE) en nidos de Atta spp. (HYMENOPTERA: MYRMICINAE) en Caldas y Meta (Colombia)". Boletín Científico Centro de Museos Museo de Historia Natural (in Spanish). 19 (1): 215–220. doi:10.17151/bccm.2015.19.1.15. ISSN 2462-8190.