Mormotomyiidae

Mormotomyiidae
Mormotomyia hirsuta
Conservation status
NE
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Subclass: Pterygota
Infraclass: Neoptera
Superorder: Endopterygota
Order: Diptera
Suborder: Brachycera
Infraorder: Muscomorpha
Section: Schizophora
Subsection: Calyptratae
Superfamily: Hippoboscoidea
Family: Mormotomyiidae
Genus: Mormotomyia
Species: M. hirsuta
Binomial name
Mormotomyia hirsuta
Austen, 1936

The family Mormotomyiidae (Diptera: Ephydroidea) contains only one known species, Mormotomyia hirsuta, commonly known as the Frightful Hairy Fly,[1] which is found in Kenya. The fly was first described by English entomologist Ernest Edward Austen[2], and specimens have been collected from one location on a mountain in the Okazzi Hills, in a cleft where a bat roost is located; this may possibly be the most restricted geographic distribution for any fly family. The larvae have been collected from bat guano. Adult flies are believed to feed on bodily secretions of bats. The fly measures about 1 cm long, with hairy legs, and, due to its non-functional wings and tiny eyes, looks more like a spider than a fly. Specimens have been collected only three times, in 1933, 1948, and 2010.[3][4]

References

  1. ^ Kirk-Spriggs, A.H., Kotrba, M. & Copeland, R.S. 2011. Further details of the morphology of the enigmatic African fly Mormotomyia hirsuta Austen (Diptera: Mormotomyiidae). African Invertebrates 52 (1): 145-165.[1]PDF
  2. ^ Austen, E.E. 1936. A remarkable semi-apterous fly (Diptera) found in a cave in East Africa, and representing a new family, genus, and species. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London (1936): 425–431.
  3. ^ "Bizarre hairy fly is rediscovered". BBC News. 8 December 2010. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-11948321. 
  4. ^ "World’s rarest fly rediscovered". National Museum. 7 December 2010. http://www.nasmus.co.za/museum/news/world%E2%80%99s-rarest-fly-rediscovered. Retrieved 10 December 2010. 

External links

Data related to Mormotomyiidae at Wikispecies


Stub icon This article related to members of the insect order Diptera (true flies) is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.