Kingdom Animalia Family Dryomyzidae Scientific name Oedoparena glauca Rank Species | Class Insecta Genus Oedoparena Phylum Arthropoda Order Fly | |
Oedoparena glauca is a common coastal fly from the family Dryomyzidae. It is the only known dipterous predator of barnacles.
Contents
Distribution
This is a Nearctic fly occurring from Central California to Alaska.
Ecology
Eggs are deposited on the operculum of barnacle and fly larvae consume several barnacles during their development. Pupariation then tacks place in an empty barnacle shell. The adult flies emerge during the morning low tide. It is possible that other members of the genus Oedoparena may have a similar lifestyle.
References
Oedoparena glauca Wikipedia(Text) CC BY-SA