InsectNet forum

A Massive Asilidae sp. from Ecuador - 80mm wingspan!


Pantophthalmus tabaninus from Brazil - 60mm wingspan...


John K.

boghaunter1 wrote: ↑Wed Mar 22, 2023 7:35 pm A Massive Asilidae sp. from Ecuador - 80mm wingspan!...

Indeed, some of those tropical asilids, pantophthalmids, and mydid flies are incredibly large compared to their temperate relatives.

Here's a species of Pantophthalmus -



and Gauromydas heros -

Wow!.... those 2 photos of humungous tropical flies, in hand, are actually larger than some of the mosquitoes we have up here! Very impressive, I think even I would do a doubletake/slight freakout if one of those suddenly dropped down on me.... TFP

John K.

One of the weirdest looking fly families in the world - the stalk eyed flies - no data


John K.

boghaunter1 wrote: ↑Thu Mar 23, 2023 4:47 pm Wow!.... those 2 photos of humungous tropical flies, in hand, are actually larger than some of the mosquitoes we have up here! Very impressive, I think even I would do a doubletake/slight freakout if one of those suddenly dropped down on me.... TFP

John K.

Mydas clavatus is probably the largest fly in my area. I see them every summer, usually around wood piles. The larvae live in rotting wood, where they are predatory on scarab beetle larvae. The adults (which mimic spider wasps such as Anoplius spp.) have an iridescent blue-black sheen to the wings, and flash bright orange abdominal markings when startled. There's really no comparison to gigantic tropical relatives such as Gauromydas heros, but M. clavatus is quite large for a US species. A couple of photos I took in 2019 -

Another great photo of a giant timber fly (Pantophthalmus sp.) -