Paracosmus insolens
This record describes Paracosmus insolens (species). Recorded family: Bombyliidae. Recorded order: Diptera.
Identification and Appearance
Coquillett's original 1891 description of the male is here . The female was described (and the male redescribed) in Hall(1957) .
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
Records exist from: San Diego Co., Los Angeles Co., and Marin Co. (from specimen records from the Cal Acad. of Sciences ); and... San Bernardino Co. (from BugGuide posts).
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Diptera, the group containing Paracosmus insolens. 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 insolens (4)
Photo credits: Contributed by Joel Kits; Additional contributions by Aaron Schusteff
Frequently Asked Questions About Paracosmus insolens
What is Paracosmus insolens?
Paracosmus insolens is a species in the family Bombyliidae, within the order Diptera.
How big is Paracosmus insolens?
3.5-4.5 mm (per Coquillett's original description)
Where is Paracosmus insolens found?
Range: Records exist from: San Diego Co., Los Angeles Co., and Marin Co. (from specimen records from the Cal Acad. of Sciences ); and... San Bernardino Co. (from BugGuide posts).