Phoridae sp.

SPECIES: Phoridae sp. ( order Diptera)

COMMON NAME: Phorid flies

SIZE: adults from 0.5 mm to 7 mm

LIFECYCLE: The females lay a variable number of eggs at a time, from a few to a few dozen. Over their lifetime, they may lay hundreds. Hatching usually occurs within 24 hours and complete post-embryonic development takes place in a time span dependent on environmental conditions. On average it takes about 25 days, but in unfavorable conditions, particularly at relatively low temperatures, post-embryonic development may complete in 1.5 to 2 months. Parasitoid larvae develop at the expense of a wide range of terrestrial invertebrates. Insects that may be hosts to Phorid fly larvae include Hymenoptera, Isoptera, Rhyncota, ladybirds, but the larvae have also been found in snails and earthworms.

FEATURES: Brown, yellowish or black curved back, the head is small and facing downwards. Of particular importance is the fact that Phorid flies attack red ants. They inject their eggs into the ant's thorax. The larva hatches from the egg and moves through the body of the ant, reaching its brain where it then eats the nerve tissue and haemolymph. The ant starts to die. The Phorid fly leaves the ant after first excreting enzymes that cause the ant's head to detach from the rest of its body. About one month after hatching, the adult fly exits the ant's head.

HABITAT: their habitat varies from decomposing organic materials, of various kinds, the nests of social insects, the burrows of mammals and birds, nests on the ground, sewage from cesspools, drains, etc.

DIET: omnivorous, feeding on sugary substances, such as honeydew or nectar, but also on animal protein substances, such as fluids produced by living or dead animals.

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