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.
Distribution This 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.
Description Gauromydas heros can reach a length of and a wingspan of about . It is the largest fly known. The wing membrane is whitish, brown or orange, with a hyaline apex and a posterior margin.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 doi=10.11646/zootaxa.4048.3.3
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 List of largest insects
References