Family Mydidae - Mydas Flies

Classification · Numbers · Identification · Range · Habitat · Food · Remarks · Internet References · Works Cited

Rhaphiomidas acton Female on Eriogonum fasciculatum - Rhaphiomidas acton - female

Mydidae - Pseudonomoneura - male - female

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Class Insecta (Insects)

Order Diptera (Flies)

No Taxon (Orthorrhapha)

Superfamily Asiloidea

Family Mydidae (Mydas Flies)

Numbers

65 spp. in 9 genera of 4 subfamilies in our area(1), ~470 in 66 genera of 11 subfamilies worldwide(2)

Identification

Large flies, often wasp mimics.

Range

worldwide, primarily in tropical and subtropical regions (most diverse in Subsaharan, esp. so. Africa but poorly represented in the Oriental Region), with some representation in temperate climes(2); in our area, most spp. have restricted distribution, mostly in sw. US(1)

Habitat

primarily in arid environments, although quite a few species occur in rain forests(2); larvae in decaying wood or soil(1)

Food

Larvae prey on beetle larvae(1). Some adults, especially males, take nectar; some females do not feed as adults.

Remarks

Batesian mimicry of large spider wasps (Pompilidae: genera Pepsis, Hemipepsis by Mydas flies discussed in(3); Mydas clavatus is likely a mimic of the pompilid wasp Anoplius

Internet References

Fact sheet

Works Cited

1.	American Insects: A Handbook of the Insects of America North of Mexico By Ross H. Arnett

2.	Deciphering the diversity and evolutionary history of Asiloidea flies, by T. Dikow

3.	Sonoran Desert Summer By John Alcock, Marilyn Hoff Stewart

Contributed by Cotinis on 16 March, 2004 - 2:47pm
Additional contributions by Beatriz Moisset, v belov
Last updated 19 December, 2011 - 8:59am

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