Radiant Laphria
Laphria aktis
This record describes Laphria aktis (species). Recorded family: Asilidae. Recorded order: Diptera.
Identification and Appearance
Nearly identical to Laphria sericea . Clear view of male terminal appendages necessary for identification from photographs. Females not separable from photos. Difficult to impossible to distinguish from L. sericea from photographs. Photos that are not conclusively identified should be placed in the sericea complex. With the caveat that this is a key from 1920: Quoting from key --separation of aktis and sericea (McAtee and Banks. 1920): B. With copious bright golden pile over whole dorsum of thorax and abdomen (distinguishes from other Laphria in that key). C. Male forceps nearly straight viewed from above, spatulate - > sericea . CC. Male forceps curved, not spatulate - > aktis . Note. This does not account for a possible undescribed species in this group.
Classification
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
e. US (NH-GA to MN-IA)
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Laphria aktis McAtee 1919 "Radiant Laphria": (updated 6/11/26)
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Diptera, the group containing Laphria aktis. 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 Radiant Laphria (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Ben Coulter; Additional contributions by cotinis , v belov , Chris Cohen
Frequently Asked Questions About Radiant Laphria
What is Radiant Laphria?
Radiant Laphria (Laphria aktis) is a species in the family Asilidae, within the order Diptera.
How do you identify Radiant Laphria?
Nearly identical to Laphria sericea . Clear view of male terminal appendages necessary for identification from photographs. Females not separable from photos. Difficult to impossible to distinguish from L. sericea from photographs. Photos that are not conclusively identified should be placed in the sericea complex. With the caveat that this is a key from 1920: Quoting from key --separation of aktis and sericea (McAtee and Banks. 1920): B. With copious bright golden pile over whole dorsum of thorax and abdomen (distinguishes from other Laphria in that key). C. Male forceps nearly straight viewed from above, spatulate - > sericea . CC. Male forceps curved, not spatulate - > aktis . Note. This does not account for a possible undescribed species in this group.
Where is Radiant Laphria found?
Range: e. US (NH-GA to MN-IA)