Myioscaptia (lat.) Is a horsefly species endemic to Australia from the subfamily Pangoniinae [1] .
| Myioscaptia |
| Scientific classification |
|---|
| No rank : | Bilateral symmetrical |
| Subtype : | Tracheo-breathing |
| Infraclass : | Winged insects |
| Treasure : | Fully Transformed Insects |
| Suborder : | Short-winged Diptera |
| Infrastructure : | Tabanomorpha |
|
| International scientific name |
|---|
Myioscaptia Mackerras , 1955 |
|
Content
Small (8-11 mm) horseflies, resembling carrion flies . Eyes in the hairs. The first two segments of the antennae are short, the terminal segment is divided into eight secondary segments. Palps shortened, flattened in females, cylindrical in males. Chest and abdomen are often metallic shiny, less often dull. Longitudinal stripes on mesoscutum hardly outlined, rarely passing beyond transverse suture. Proboscis relatively short, slightly longer than head. The wings are transparent. Pterostigma is clearly visible. The last radial and first medial veins are brought together or merge [1] .
Larvae (described only in the species Myioscaptia muscula ) are predators, feed on Lepidoptera pupae, live on the bottom of sandy depressions made by ant lion larvae [2] . Females are bloodsuckers that actively attack humans and livestock [1] .
Previously, the taxon Myioscaptia was considered as a subgenus in the genus Scaptia . The independence of the genus was substantiated by the Australian dipterologist Brian Lessard in 2014 and included 11 species [1] :
- Myioscaptia bancrofti (Austen, 1912)
- Myioscaptia calliphora (Mackerras, 1960)
- Myioscaptia collessi (Lessard in Lessard & Yeates, 2013)
- Myioscaptia ferromontana (Daniels, 2011)
- Myioscaptia gibbula (Walker, 1848)
- Myioscaptia inopinata (Fairchild & Mackerras, 1977)
- Myioscaptia lambkinae (Lessard in Lessard & Yeates, 2013)
- Myioscaptia muscula (English, 1955)
- Myioscaptia nigroapicalis (Mackerras, 1960)
- Myioscaptia nigrocincta (Mackerras, 1960)
- Myioscaptia violacea (Macquart, 1850) typus
Most species are common on Australia's east coast , from Queensland in the north to Victoria in the south. In Western Australia , only Myioscaptia lambkinae and Myioscaptia gibulla species are found .