Chrysops callidus

Osten Sacken, 1875

Beautiful Deer Fly

Chrysops callidus is a of in the , first described by Osten Sacken in 1875. Commonly known as the Beautiful Deer Fly, this species is distributed across Canada and the United States. Females possess a specialized with twelve pairs of putative sensory trichites that monitor blood flow during feeding. The species serves as an intermediate for the haemosporidian Haemoproteus metchnikovi, with documented sporogonic development occurring in the 's epithelium.

Chrysops callidus by Bruce Marlin. Used under a CC BY-SA 3.0 license.Deer Fly - Chrysops callidus, Andelot Farm, Worton, Maryland by Judy Gallagher. Used under a CC BY 2.0 license.Gary and Deer Fly - Chrysops callidus, Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Woodbridge, Virginia, May 31, 2023 (53159694419) by Judy Gallagher. Used under a CC BY 2.0 license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Chrysops callidus: /ˈkrɪsɒps ˈkalɪdəs/

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Distribution

Canada and the United States. Specific records include Vermont.

Diet

Blood-feeding (females only, inferred from presence of sensory trichites in the specialized for blood flow).

Host Associations

  • Haemoproteus metchnikovi - intermediate Sporogonic stages of this haemosporidian develop in the epithelium; young oocysts form beneath the and protrude into the space.

Human Relevance

Potential for Haemoproteus metchnikovi, a haemosporidian . in general are known biting pests, though specific medical or veterinary significance of C. callidus is not documented in available sources.

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Sources and further reading