Gauromydas heros
Appearance
Gauromydas heros | |
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Gauromydas heros | |
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Species: | G. heros
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Binomial name | |
Gauromydas heros (Perty, 1833)
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Gauromydas heros is a species of giant flies belonging to the family Mydidae.
Distribution
This species has a Neotropical distribution (Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay).[1][2]
Description
Gauromydas heros can reach a length of 32–70 millimetres (1.3–2.8 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.[2]
Biology
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 in the soil a pupation chamber. Then the imago emerge.[2]
References
Wikispecies has information related to Gauromydas heros.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Gauromydas heros.
- ^ a b Asiloid Flies
- ^ 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