Coenomyia ferruginea
This record describes Coenomyia ferruginea (species). Recorded family: Xylophagidae. Recorded order: Diptera.
Identification and Appearance
How to tell males from females (Thanks to Bob Biagi ) 1) Overall Body coloring: Dark brown with some lighter (lateral) abdominal bands = ♂ Shiny orange with light-orange abdomen, almost white = ♀ 2) Leg colors: Hind legs darker = ♂ All legs light = ♀ 3) Abdomen size: Not gargantuan, shorter than wings = ♂ Long, extending beyond the wings = ♀ 4) Abdominal tip: Stumpy, no obvious ticklers sticking out = ♂ Two ticklers that she usually cannot hide = ♀ 5) Eye-gap: Eyes meet on top of head, with almost no eye-gap = ♂ Head with a small eye-gap visible above antennae = ♀
Wikipedia reference for Coenomyia ferruginea: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coenomyia_ferruginea.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Diptera (Flies)
- Superfamily
- Empidoidea
- Family
- Xylophagidae
- Genus
- Coenomyia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
holarctic, Europe & e. NA (QC-GA to MB-ND-KS)
Seasonal Activity
Apr-Jun in NC
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae prey on other insect larvae
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Coenomyia ferruginea ( Scopoli 1763)
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Diptera, the group containing Coenomyia ferruginea. 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 Coenomyia ferruginea (3)
Photo credits: Contributed by Martin Hauser; Additional contributions by cotinis , Beatriz Moisset , Chuck Entz , v belov , marcie oconnor
Frequently Asked Questions About Coenomyia ferruginea
What is Coenomyia ferruginea?
Coenomyia ferruginea is a species in the family Xylophagidae, within the order Diptera.
How big is Coenomyia ferruginea?
16-18 mm
How do you identify Coenomyia ferruginea?
How to tell males from females (Thanks to Bob Biagi ) 1) Overall Body coloring: Dark brown with some lighter (lateral) abdominal bands = ♂ Shiny orange with light-orange abdomen, almost white = ♀ 2) Leg colors: Hind legs darker = ♂ All legs light = ♀ 3) Abdomen size: Not gargantuan, shorter than wings = ♂ Long, extending beyond the wings = ♀ 4) Abdominal tip: Stumpy, no obvious ticklers sticking out = ♂ Two ticklers that she usually cannot hide = ♀ 5) Eye-gap: Eyes meet on top of head, with almost no eye-gap = ♂ Head with a small eye-gap visible above antennae = ♀
Where is Coenomyia ferruginea found?
Range: holarctic, Europe & e. NA (QC-GA to MB-ND-KS)
What does Coenomyia ferruginea eat?
The diet of the Coenomyia ferruginea includes Larvae prey on other insect larvae.
When is Coenomyia ferruginea active?
Coenomyia ferruginea: seasonal activity - Apr-Jun in NC.