Eurimyia stipata
This record describes Eurimyia stipata (species). Recorded family: Syrphidae. Recorded order: Diptera.
Identification and Appearance
Lejops species have the eyes separated on both sexes. The main sexual dimorphism is in the color and shape of the abdomen. The females are more blue gray and have an oval shaped abdomen, while the males have a more slender abdomen and are more orange. Therefore the orange L. lineatus are males not females. (Comment by Martin Hauser)
Classification
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Lejops lineatus (Fabricius 1787) turned out to be a Palearctic / northwestern Nearctic species, with another cryptic species in the remaining Nearctic. These two species were raised to their own genus Eurimyia by
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Diptera, the group containing Eurimyia stipata. 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 Eurimyia stipata (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Martin Hauser; Additional contributions by john and jane balaban , Beatriz Moisset , v belov , edanko