Paracosmus edwardsii
This record describes Paracosmus edwardsii (species). Recorded family: Bombyliidae. Recorded order: Diptera.
Identification and Appearance
See key on Paracosmus info page. Read Loew's 1872 original description here .
Identification notes
See key on Paracosmus info page.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Diptera (Flies)
- Superfamily
- Asiloidea
- Family
- Bombyliidae (Bee Flies)
- Subfamily
- Tomomyzinae
- Genus
- Paracosmus
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
CA-UT
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Loew's genus name Allocotus was found to be pre-occupied, so Osten Sacken coined the new genus name Paracosmus ...which he remarked is Greek for "disorderly" ( para- Gr. beside, beyond, near; Cosm- Gr. order, the world, universe ). It's not clear what Osten Sacken found 'disorderly' about this genus...though P. edwardsii can have an erratic flight behavior. The epithet edwardsii was an honorific given by Loew in recognition of the collector of the type material: the illustrious " H. Edwards ".
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Diptera, the group containing Paracosmus edwardsii. 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 Paracosmus edwardsii (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Hartmut Wisch; Additional contributions by Aaron Schusteff , v belov
Frequently Asked Questions About Paracosmus edwardsii
What is Paracosmus edwardsii?
Paracosmus edwardsii is a species in the family Bombyliidae, within the order Diptera.
How do you identify Paracosmus edwardsii?
See key on Paracosmus info page.
Where is Paracosmus edwardsii found?
Range: CA-UT