Mydas ventralis
This record describes Mydas ventralis (species). Recorded family: Mydidae. Recorded order: Diptera.
Identification and Appearance
It seems this mydid species is a good mimic of the scoliid wasp Triscolia ardens . Apparently it even fools itself, in that Alcock(1989) mentions the males perched on shrubs waiting for passing females to chase often take off and chase passing individuals of Triscolia ardens ! Another scoliid worth mentioning is Scolia dubia haematodes , which has nearly identical coloration to Triscolia ardens .
Wikipedia reference for Mydas ventralis: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mydas_ventralis.
Classification
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Diptera, the group containing Mydas ventralis. 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 Mydas ventralis (3)
Photo credits: Contributed by Martin Hauser; Additional contributions by Hartmut Wisch , Aaron Schusteff , PaleoJon