Phrosinella fulvicornis
This record describes Phrosinella fulvicornis (species). Recorded family: Sarcophagidae. Recorded order: Diptera.
Identification and Appearance
The adults occur on barren, sandy ditch bottoms, over sand dunes, on sand bars, barren places in open pastures, on stone-strewn country roads and on the upper marine beach. In such places they are frequently associated with several species of Senotainia and allied genera as well as various species of fossorial Hymenoptera. They have never been taken on flowers or rank vegetation. The adults dart about just above the surface of the ground in characteristic zigzag flight very closely resembling that of the small Larridae from which they are not readily distinguished until they alight on the ground. (Allen, 1926)
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Diptera (Flies)
- Superfamily
- Oestroidea
- Family
- Sarcophagidae (Flesh Flies)
- Subfamily
- Miltogramminae
- Genus
- Phrosinella
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Eastern North America
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: "Yellow horn" -- at the time it was the only known North American species with yellow antennae.
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Diptera, the group containing Phrosinella fulvicornis. 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.