The Mydidae (sometimes misspelled as "Mydaidae"), or Mydas flies, are a cosmopolitan family of flies. It is a small family, with about 471 species described. They are generally large in size, including the largest known fly, Gauromydas heros (syn. Mydas heros). Many of the species, in addition to their large size, are mimics of stinging hymenopterans, especially wasps.
Most mydids are found in arid and semiarid regions of the world, but they are also found in other habitats. Mydidae are most diverse in southern Africa, but many species have also been described from North America, Chile, and Australia.
Biology Little is known about their biology, though Zikan reported the larvae of Gauromydas heros live in the subterranean detritus "pans" of Atta ants in southern Brazil, where they appear to be feeding on detritivorous Dynastinae (Coelosis spp.) larvae. In the U.S., Mydas brunneus, Mydas clavatus, and Mydas tibialis larvae are predatory on deadwood-feeding scarab beetle larvae (Osmoderma spp.) and can be found in standing and downed trees with extensive heart rot. Others (e.g. Mydas maculiventris) are subterranean and feed on "white grubs" (Scarabaeidae: genus Phyllophaga) that attack the roots of grasses and could be potential biocontrol agents of white grubs in sod production areas. Larvae typically take two or three years to mature.
Adults of several species are avid flower visitors and act as pollinating agents. Rattlesnake master (Eryngium yuccifolium) is a favorite nectar source in the Midwest. They are infrequently encountered as the adult lifespan can be quite short.
Description
Mydids are medium-sized to very large flies (9–60 mm in body length). The abdomen is long and cylindrical in section. It is slightly tapered apically in the male, and usually widest at segment four in the female. The second segment of the antenna forms a club. Mydids are sparsely pilose, and lack bristles except on the legs. The hind leg is much longer and stronger than both the middle leg and the fore leg and the hind femur is usually swollen and bears ventral spines. The hind tibia has an apical spur or bristles. The wings are long, and narrow to wide. Most of the veins end in the upper margin before the apex.
Classification The classification of the family has changed fairly recently, in 1996, with the inclusion of a few genera that were previously placed in the family Apioceridae. Apiocerids have long been given the common name "flower-loving flies", but the only group of "flower-loving flies" that actually visit flowers were transferred to the Mydidae. Among the genera transferred is Rhaphiomidas, which includes one of the few Diptera on the United States' Endangered Species List, the Delhi Sands flower-loving fly (Rhaphiomidas terminatus abdominalis).
Evolutionary history The oldest known member of the family is Cretomydas from the Early Cretaceous (Aptian) Crato Formation of Brazil. The genus appears to have close affinites to the subfamily Diochlistinae, suggesting a Cretaceous diversification for the family.
Species lists West Palaearctic including Russia Australasian/Oceanian Nearctic Japan World list
Genera
Afroleptomydas Bequaert, 1961 Afromydas Bequaert, 1961 Agaperemius Hesse, 1969 Anomalomydas Papavero & Wilcox, 1974 Apiophora Philippi, 1865 Arenomydas Hesse, 1969 c g Baliomydas Papavero & Pimentel, 1989 Belemiana Pontia, 2020 Cacatuopyga Papavero & Wilcox, 1974 Cephalocera c g Cephalocerodes Hesse, 1969 c g Ceriomydas Williston, 1898 Charimydas c g Chrysomydas Papavero & Pimentel, 1989 Diochlistus Gerstaecker, 1868 c g Dolichogaster Macquart, 1848 Ectyphus Gerstaecker, 1868 c g Eremohaplomydas c g Eremomidas c g Eumydas c g Gauromydas Papavero & Pimentel, 1989 Halterorchis Bezzi, 1924 Haplomydas c g Hessemydas Carr & Irwin, 2005 Heteroleptomydas c g Heteromydas Hardy, 1944 Hispanomydas c g Lachnocorynus Hesse, 1969 c g Leptomydas Gerstaecker, 1868 c g Mahafalymydas c g Mapinguari Papavero & Wilcox, 1974 Megascelus c g Messiasia d'Andretta, 1951 i c g b Midacritus c g Miltinus Gerstaecker, 1868 c g Mimadelphus Hesse, 1972 Mitrodetus Gerstaecker, 1868 c g Mydas Fabricius, 1794 Mydaselpis c g Namadytes Hesse, 1969 c g Namibimydas Hesse, 1972 Nemomydas Curran, 1934 i c g b Neolaparopsis Hesse, 1969 c g Neorhaphiomidas c g Nomoneura c g Nomoneuroides Hesse, 1969 c g Nothomydas Hesse, 1969 Notosyllegomydas Hesse, 1969 c g Opomydas Curran, 1934 Oreomydas Hesse, 1969 c g Paramydas c g Parectyphus c g Perissocerus Gerstaecker, 1868 c g Phyllomydas Bigot, 1880 Plyomydas Papavero, 1971 Protomydas Papavero & Pimentel, 1989 Pseudonomoneura Bequaert, 1961 Pseudorhopalia Wilcox & Papavero, 1971 Rhaphiomidas Osten Sacken, 1877 Rhopalia c g Rhopaliana c g Stratiomydas Papavero & Pimentel, 1989 Syllegomydas c g Tongamya c g Vespiodes Hesse, 1969 c g
Data sources: i = ITIS, c = Catalogue of Life, g = GBIF, b = Bugguide.net
References
External links
Torsten Dikow's Website on Mydidae Mydidae Tree of Life Family Mydidae at EOL Mydidae in Italian