Phaonia caerulescens
This record describes Phaonia caerulescens (species). Recorded family: Muscidae. Recorded order: Diptera.
Identification and Appearance
The robust species P. caerulescens has legs entirely black and the hypopleura usually with hairs on upper border. Adults may readily be recognized by the dark brown margins to the calyptrae .
Classification
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
"Alberta, California, Idaho, Oregon, Utah, Washington ".
Seasonal Activity
" P. caerulescens is one of the few muscids in California which fly only during spring. The flies have been recorded from late January to May and are commonly collected in February and March in the San Francisco Bay area; adults have been taken only during February and March in southern California (often at 3,000 feet in February), and from April to June in the Sierra Nevada and northward ".
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Diptera, the group containing Phaonia caerulescens. 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 Phaonia caerulescens (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Ken Schneider
Frequently Asked Questions About Phaonia caerulescens
What is Phaonia caerulescens?
Phaonia caerulescens is a species in the family Muscidae, within the order Diptera.
How do you identify Phaonia caerulescens?
The robust species P. caerulescens has legs entirely black and the hypopleura usually with hairs on upper border. Adults may readily be recognized by the dark brown margins to the calyptrae .
Where is Phaonia caerulescens found?
Range: Alberta, California, Idaho, Oregon, Utah, Washington .
When is Phaonia caerulescens active?
Phaonia caerulescens: seasonal activity - P. caerulescens is one of the few muscids in California which fly only during spring. The flies have been recorded from late January to May and are commonly collected in February and March in the San Francisco Bay area; adults have been taken only during February and March in southern California (often at 3,000 feet in February), and from April to June in the Sierra Nevada and northward ..