Scientists found the larvae of killer “knives” instead of the mouth
They will help farmers.
Upstairs
Australian fly Blepharotes splendidissimus known that attacks on butterflies and dragonflies and kills them with poisonous bite. In the new study, researchers found that even larvae of these flies are predators.
#古代兵器な虫
なんか最近見かけなくなったタグなのでやろうと思います。
・ブレファローテス ［Blepharotes splendidissimus ］
オーストラリアに生息するハエです。まさに昆虫界のベルゼブブと言っても過言ではないヴィジュアル。 pic.twitter.com/uQmtQLiMMc
— 笠原さん (@Mushrooms815) 19 Nov 2017
Fly Blepharotes splendidissimus was first described in 1830. It belongs to the family of predatory Diptera under the name of ctyri (Asilidae). She has a shiny black body and dark brown wings. The length of the insect reaching up to 2.5 cm, and the wingspan is 4 cm.
Assassin fly larvae have a blade-shaped mandible hooks that allow them to inject venomous saliva into their prey. https://t.co/bUlB4QTWuC
— News from Science (@NewsfromScience) 7 Dec 2018
According to the researchers, the mouth of the larvae Blepharotes splendidissimus “resembles a Swiss army knife.” They have sharp lower jaw hooklike form, with which they dig into the body of other insects. Pictures of tiny larvae have been obtained by electron microscopy. They are published in Austral Entomology.
Biting the victim, the larva injects it with poisonous saliva through a tube in the jaws and then the same “tool” sucks out the insides of the insect.
The study’s authors argue that flies are killer and their larvae can be very useful to farmers in combating the pests.
See also:
- Harlequins went to the conquest of Russia
- Scientists have discovered a Salamander with a “tree” on the head
- The Gecko running across the water