Cornsilk Fly
Euxesta annonae
This record describes Euxesta annonae (species). Recorded family: Ulidiidae. Recorded order: Diptera.
Identification and Appearance
This is the form traditionally known as Euxesta annonae . The name has been misused. The type specimen of annonae is not the same as the traditional concept of the species. (It is the same as eluta Loew.) Specimens under this name in museum collections belong to at least six different species in three genera. ( Comment by Valery Korneyev on diptera.info .)
Classification
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Florida, West Indies, and points south
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Reared from annona fruit in FL, but sweet corn and field corn are highly preferred, and the only crops to be economically damaged. Adults feed on pollen, sugary plant exudates, and fluids leaking from plant tissue damaged by their larvae, other insects, or equipment.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Named after the plant genus Annona , a larval host.
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Diptera, the group containing Euxesta annonae. 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.
Frequently Asked Questions About Cornsilk Fly
What is Cornsilk Fly?
Cornsilk Fly (Euxesta annonae) is a species in the family Ulidiidae, within the order Diptera.
Where is Cornsilk Fly found?
Range: Florida, West Indies, and points south
What does Cornsilk Fly eat?
The diet of the Cornsilk Fly includes Reared from annona fruit in FL, but sweet corn and field corn are highly preferred, and the only crops to be economically damaged. Adults feed on pollen, sugary plant exudates, and fluids leaking from plant tissue damaged by their larvae, other insects, or equipment..