Insect · GBIF taxon 5080984
Clubbed Mydas Fly
Mydas clavatusAlso known as Orange-banded Mydas Fly
Clubbed Mydas flies are striking, dark-winged insects that command attention through convincing mimicry of stinging spider wasps. Adults cruise boldly through sunny clearings and field edges during midsummer, flaunting orange-marked abdomens and distinctly swollen antennal tips. Beneath the soil or inside decaying logs, their subterranean larvae act as voracious predators, hunting down heavy scarab beetle grubs.
MimicLarge FlyDiurnal
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Scarab beetle larvae
- June beetle grubs
- Flower nectar
Predators
- Birds
- Robber flies
- Spiders
ThreatsHabitat loss, soil disturbance, and broad-spectrum pesticide use.
HabitatsDeciduous woodlands, sandy clearings, fields, and decaying logs.
Life span1–2 years total; adults live 2–4 weeks.
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderDiptera
- FamilyMydidae
- GenusMydas
- SpeciesMydas clavatus
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance; harmless despite its wasp-like appearance.
Responsible observation
- Observation: Search sunlit sandy paths and woodland edges during midsummer.
- Identification: Look for a bright orange band on the second abdominal segment.
- Approach: Move slowly to watch adults bask on broad leaves or bare soil.
Mimicry Model (c) Judy Gallagher, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Judy Gallagher · cc-by-sa
Larval Food Source Patrick Coin (Patrick Coin) / CC BY-SA 2.5 · cc-by-sa
Co-occurring Insect (c) Judy Gallagher, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Judy Gallagher · cc-by-sa
Help improve the field guideSomething wrong?
Checking your Fauna account…Report a name, category, or profile issue for review.