Gauromydas Heros
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.
| Gauromydas heros | |
|---|---|
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| 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 | |
Distribution
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.
Description
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.
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 a pupation chamber in the soil. Then the imago emerges.
See also
References
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