Desmatomyia anomala

Williston, 1895

Desmatomyia anomala is a of bee fly in the Bombyliidae, first described by Samuel Wendell Williston in 1895. It belongs to the Crocidiinae, a group of bee flies characterized by their distinctive wing venation and often slender body forms. The Desmatomyia is relatively small and poorly known, with few published records of its or . Like other bombyliids, are likely nectar feeders, while larvae are presumed to be or of other insects, though specific relationships for this species remain undocumented.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Desmatomyia anomala: /dɛsˌmætəˈmaɪə əˈnoʊmələ/

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Identification

The Desmatomyia can be distinguished from other bombyliid genera by wing venation characters, including the pattern of in the discal and anal . -level identification requires examination of genitalic structures and comparison with . D. anomala specifically is characterized by features of the male terminalia as described in the original 1895 description, though modern redescriptions are lacking. The species name 'anomala' (anomalous) suggests unusual or distinctive morphological features that set it apart from .

Distribution

Published records are sparse. The was described from material collected in the United States, but precise locality data from the original description are not widely cited in modern literature. GBIF indicates at least one observation record exists. The Desmatomyia has a predominantly Nearctic distribution, with species recorded from western and central North America.

Similar Taxa

  • Other Desmatomyia speciesCongeneric share general body plan and wing venation patterns; require dissection and comparison of male genitalia for definitive separation.
  • Other Crocidiinae generaMembers of the same share the characteristic wing venation with reduced or modified ; distinguished by details of structure, , and leg chaetotaxy.

More Details

Taxonomic status

The remains poorly studied since its original description. No modern taxonomic revisions of Desmatomyia have comprehensively treated D. anomala, and its phylogenetic relationships within the and are unresolved.

Nomenclatural note

The specific epithet 'anomala' is feminine in form, properly agreeing with the feminine name Desmatomyia (from Greek 'desma' = band/bond and 'myia' = fly).

Sources and further reading