Villa lateralis
This record describes Villa lateralis (species). Recorded family: Bombyliidae. Recorded order: Diptera.
Identification and Appearance
hyaline-winged. It occurs in two forms. The smaller one is more common in the spring. For a complete description see: Discover Life This variable species has in the Eastern United States two well marked variations which cause considerable confusion when lumped with the typical form.
Wikipedia reference for Villa lateralis: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Villa_lateralis.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Diptera (Flies)
- Superfamily
- Asiloidea
- Family
- Bombyliidae (Bee Flies)
- Subfamily
- Anthracinae
- Tribe
- Villini
- Genus
- Villa
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Widely distributed in North America including Puerto Rico and South to Panama
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Diptera, the group containing Villa lateralis. 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 Villa lateralis (3)
Photo credits: Contributed by Lynette Elliott; Additional contributions by Beatriz Moisset , Robin McLeod
Frequently Asked Questions About Villa lateralis
What is Villa lateralis?
Villa lateralis is a species in the family Bombyliidae, within the order Diptera.
How big is Villa lateralis?
6 to 7 mm and 7 to 11 mm
How do you identify Villa lateralis?
hyaline-winged. It occurs in two forms. The smaller one is more common in the spring. For a complete description see: Discover Life
Where is Villa lateralis found?
Range: Widely distributed in North America including Puerto Rico and South to Panama