Acrocera stansburyi
This record describes Acrocera stansburyi (species). Recorded family: Acroceridae. Recorded order: Diptera.
Identification and Appearance
The original description by C. W. Johnson is quite informative and can be read here . Regarding size, the following quote is from pg. 400 of Sabrosky (1948): All specimens that I have seen are of small size, only 3 mm. at most, whereas the others ranged from 4.5-5.5 mm. in length. Size is of course an unreliable criterion in these parasitic flies, but the consistently small size of the Utah series may be a significant indication.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Diptera (Flies)
- Superfamily
- Empidoidea
- Family
- Acroceridae (Small-headed Flies)
- Genus
- Acrocera
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Known from the Great Salt Lake area of Utah. Sabrosky wrote in his revision of 1948, that a number of specimens had been seen from various collections, but all were males and had the same label information (collected from Stansbury Island on July 13, 1913 by Hagan & Titus).
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Named in honor of Howard Stansbury, who surveyed the Great Salt Lake area of Utah in 1849-1850. Also originally discovered on Stansbury Island, in the Great Salt Lake, where the holotype and paratypes were collected.
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Diptera, the group containing Acrocera stansburyi. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Diptera includes over 150,000 described species of flies, mosquitoes, and midges. Mosquitoes are the deadliest animal on Earth (CDC). Malaria alone causes ~249 million cases and over 608,000 deaths annually, mostly children under 5 (WHO). Vector-borne diseases account for over 17% of all infectious diseases, causing 700,000+ deaths per year.
Ecological role of the group
Despite their disease impact, flies are critical decomposers and pollinators. Hoverflies alone pollinate hundreds of crop and wildflower species. Flies are also the primary food source for many birds, bats, and fish. Forensic entomology relies heavily on fly species for crime scene analysis.
Economic and practical significance of the group
In the U.S., vector-borne disease cases tripled between 2004-2016, with over 640,000 cases reported in that period (CDC). Tickborne diseases doubled from 22,000 to 48,000 annual reports. Globally, mosquito-borne diseases cost billions in healthcare and lost productivity.
Recorded sources for this group: WHO, CDC, PNAS. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Acrocera stansburyi (3)
Photo credits: Contributed by Aaron Schusteff
Frequently Asked Questions About Acrocera stansburyi
What is Acrocera stansburyi?
Acrocera stansburyi is a species in the family Acroceridae, within the order Diptera.
How big is Acrocera stansburyi?
From less than 3mm up to 4.5-5.5 mm. (See Sabrosky quote in Remarks section below)
Where is Acrocera stansburyi found?
Range: Known from the Great Salt Lake area of Utah. Sabrosky wrote in his revision of 1948, that a number of specimens had been seen from various collections, but all were males and had the same label information (collected from Stansbury Island on July 13, 1913 by Hagan & Titus).