Mydas

Fabricius, 1794

Mydas flies

Mydas is a of in the , established by Fabricius in 1794. These are among the largest flies in North America, with some reaching substantial body lengths. The genus is characterized by elongate clubbed and -mimicking coloration, typically featuring black bodies with orange or red markings. Mydas flies are often mistaken for large wasps or by observers due to their impressive size and similar appearance to mimics.

Mydas maculiventris by (c) Sandra H Statner, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Sandra H Statner. Used under a CC-BY license.Mydas luteipennis by (c) koskinonodon, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by koskinonodon. Used under a CC-BY license.Mydas arizonensis by (c) Tristan A. McKnight, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Tristan A. McKnight. Used under a CC-BY license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Mydas: /ˈmiːdəs/

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Similar Taxa

  • Stizoides renicinctusBoth share black body with orange/red abdominal banding and large size, causing frequent misidentification by non-. S. renicinctus is a kleptoparasitic (), distinguished by having two pairs of (Hymenoptera) versus one pair plus in Mydas (), and short versus Mydas elongate clubbed antennae.
  • Scolia dubia-winged shares similar black-and-orange color pattern and large size. Scolia has dark blue-black with translucent tips and is a true wasp () with constricted waist, while Mydas lacks the wasp waist and has different and structure.
  • Anoplius spider wasps in Anoplius, particularly A. semicinctus and related with red abdominal markings, closely resemble Mydas in coloration and size. Distinguished by long spiny legs typical of and different structure.
  • Ospriocerus abdominalisThis () is suggestive of a mydas in general form and -mimic coloration, but has short versus the elongate clubbed antennae diagnostic of .
  • Wyliea mydasWestern with similar mimetic -like coloration modeled after . Distinguished by black and red versus Mydas typically having red/orange abdominal markings and dark wings.

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