Dalmannia blaisdelli
This record describes Dalmannia blaisdelli (species). Recorded family: Conopidae. Recorded order: Diptera.
Identification and Appearance
From the key on pg 45 of Camras & Hurd : Scutellum and humeri partly yellow; size at least 6mm; thoracic pile relatively short (shorter than arista...distinctly so according to Bohart ); pile on dorsum of thorax predominantly black in the center, yellow anteriorly. Also, wings of D. blaisdelli are typically (but not always) dark or smoky. D. blaisdelli intergrades in many characters with the similar and somewhat variable species D. picta , but the latter never has smoky wings.
Classification
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Diptera, the group containing Dalmannia blaisdelli. 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 Dalmannia blaisdelli (3)
Photo credits: Contributed by Aaron Schusteff