Ephydra hians: Difference between revisions
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{{Short description|Species of fly}} |
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{{Taxobox |
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{{Speciesbox |
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| image = Mono Lake alkali flies closeup crop.jpeg |
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| image = Alkali Fly - Ephydra hians, Mono Lake, California.jpg |
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| image_caption = ''Ephydra hians'' at [[Mono Lake]] |
| image_caption = ''Ephydra hians'' at [[Mono Lake]] |
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| genus = Ephydra |
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| ⚫ | |||
| phylum = [[Arthropod]]a |
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| display_parents = 2 |
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| classis = [[Insect]]a |
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| ⚫ | | authority = [[Thomas Say|Say]], 1830<ref name=Say1829>{{cite journal|last1=Say|first1=Thomas|authorlink=Thomas Say|title=Descriptions of North American dipterous insects|journal=Journal of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia|date=1830|volume=6|pages=183–8|url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/24677606#page/200/mode/1up}}</ref> |
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| ordo = [[Fly|Diptera]] |
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| ⚫ | |||
| subordo = [[Brachycera]] |
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*''Hydropyrus hians'' |
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| zoosectio = [[Schizophora]] |
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| familia = [[Ephydridae]] |
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| subfamilia = [[Ephydrinae]] |
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| tribus = [[Ephydrini]] |
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| genus = ''[[Ephydra]]'' |
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| ⚫ | |||
| binomial = ''Ephydra hians'' |
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}} |
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'''''Ephydra hians''''', |
'''''Ephydra hians''''', commonly known as the '''alkali fly''', is a species of [[fly]] in the family [[Ephydridae]], the brine flies.<ref name="monolake.org">{{cite web|url=http://monolake.org/about/ecoflies|title=Mono's Alkali Fly: The First Fly You'll Ever Love|work=monolake.org}}</ref> |
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==Description== |
==Description== |
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The body of |
The body of the adult is dark brown, and roughly {{convert|4|-|7|mm|sp=us}} in length. The [[Thorax (arthropod anatomy)|thorax]] reflects a metallic greenish or bluish color, and the wings are smokey brown.<ref name="sfsu.edu">{{cite web|url=http://online.sfsu.edu/bholzman/courses/Fall01%20projects/alkalifly.htm|title=The biogeography of the Mono Lake alkali fly|work=sfsu.edu}}</ref> |
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===Larva=== |
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==Distribution== |
==Distribution and habitat== |
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This species is found mostly in the northwestern United States, as well as in Canada and Mexico. The habitat with the greatest number is in the [[Mono Basin]] in California. Other concentrations of this species are found in Minnesota, North Dakota, and Washington.<ref name="sfsu.edu"/> |
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==Habitat and behaviour== |
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[[File:Ephydra hians mono Lake brine fly.jpg|thumb|left|Vast numbers of ''Ephydra hians'' at [[Mono Lake]]]] |
[[File:Ephydra hians mono Lake brine fly.jpg|thumb|left|Vast numbers of ''Ephydra hians'' at [[Mono Lake]]]] |
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''Ephydra hians'' live in the benthic-littoral zone in both soft and hard substrates.<ref name="sfsu.edu"/> Throughout the summertime, the flies, which live for 3 to 5 days, lay eggs on or under the water's surface. These hatch in a short time. The larvae roam the bottom, underwater, feeding on algae and bacteria. They can remain under the water until they develop into adults. They do not need to go to the surface to breathe. They acquire oxygen supplied by photosynthesis of the algae. Once in the adult stage, the flies live for 3 to 5 days. They too are able to walk around under water to eat algae. They are able to do this by trapping air among the hairs on their body.<ref>[http://faculty.weber.edu/sharley/AIFT/GSL-Life.htm Life in the Great Salt Lake.] Department of Botany, Weber State University.</ref> |
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This species is found mostly in the northwestern [[United States]], as well as in [[Canada]] and [[Mexico]]. The preferred habitat is in the [[Benthic zone|benthic]]-[[Littoral zone|littoral]] zone, in habitats containing large amounts of [[tufa]] (a porous limestone deposit). [[Mono Lake]] in [[California]] has a large population of this species.<ref name=Herbst1990>{{cite book|last=Herbst|first=D.B.|editor1-last=Comín|editor1-first=F.A.|editor2-last=Northcote|editor2-first=T.G.|volume=59|series=Developments in Hydrobiology|title=Saline Lakes|chapter=Distribution and abundance of the alkali fly (Ephydra hians) Say at Mono Lake, California (USA) in relation to physical habitat|pages=193–205|publisher=Springer|location=Dordrecht|year=1990|doi=10.1007/978-94-009-0603-7_17|isbn=978-94-010-6759-1|url=https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-94-009-0603-7_17}}</ref> |
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==Behavior and ecology== |
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Throughout the summertime, the flies, which live for 3 to 5 days, feed and lay eggs under the surface of the water. Upon hatching, the larvae roam underwater, feeding on [[algae]] and bacteria. They remain under the water until they develop into adults, acquiring oxygen supplied by [[photosynthesis]] of the algae.{{cn|date=February 2021}} |
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Once in the adult stage, the flies are able to walk upon and beneath the water, feeding on algae. They are able to submerge themselves to depths of up to 24 feet (7.3 m) thanks to short, waxy [[Seta#Protostomes|hairs]] on their body, which trap a bubble of air around their bodies. This bubble is not consumed by the fly as it clambers down submerged rocks, rather its surface area is used to transpire gasses with the lakewater. In this way, the diving flies can remain submerged for up to 15 minutes in their search for algae or secluded areas for egg-laying.<ref>[http://faculty.weber.edu/sharley/AIFT/GSL-Life.htm Life in the Great Salt Lake.] Department of Botany, Weber State University.</ref> The [[Hypersaline lake|hypersaline]] water of their habitat is especially [[wetness|wet]], requiring the fly to have extra hair and special waxes to maintain this air bubble. When diving, a force equivalent to roughly 18 times the body weight of the fly is required to break through the [[surface tension]] of the water.<ref name=Breugel>{{cite journal|last1=van Breugel|first1=Floris|last2=Dickinson|first2=Michael H.|title=Superhydrophobic diving flies (Ephydra hians) and the hypersaline waters of Mono Lake|journal=Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America|volume=114|issue=51|pages=13483–8|year=2017|doi=10.1073/pnas.1714874114|pmid=29158381|pmc=5754803|doi-access=free}}</ref> |
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''Ephydra hians'' are susceptible to changes in temperature. When the temperature gets colder, their life span prolongs and the individual stages of development take longer. Adult flies do not lay eggs in the winter months due to the inability to undergo adequate development, thus creating a pause in reproduction. These flies also don't surpass a depth of roughly 15 meters due to the frigid temperatures. The favorable temperatures in spring and autumn are most suitable for growth.<ref name=Herbst1990/> |
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{{cquote|You can hold them under water as long as you please--they do not mind it--they are only proud of it. When you let them go, they pop up to the surface as dry as a patent office report, and walk off as unconcernedly as if they had been educated especially with a view to affording instructive entertainment to man in that particular way.|20px|20px|[[Mark Twain]], ''[[Roughing It]]'' 1872<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gutenberg.org/files/3177/3177-h/3177-h.htm|title=Roughing It, Complete|work=gutenberg.org}}</ref>}} |
{{cquote|You can hold them under water as long as you please--they do not mind it--they are only proud of it. When you let them go, they pop up to the surface as dry as a patent office report, and walk off as unconcernedly as if they had been educated especially with a view to affording instructive entertainment to man in that particular way.|20px|20px|[[Mark Twain]], ''[[Roughing It]]'' 1872<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gutenberg.org/files/3177/3177-h/3177-h.htm|title=Roughing It, Complete|work=gutenberg.org}}</ref>}} |
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==As food for humans== |
==As food for humans== |
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The [[Kucadikadi]], a |
The [[Kucadikadi]], a band of [[Northern Paiute people]], historically used the [[pupa]]e of this fly as a source of protein and fat. The name "Kucadikadi" means "eaters of the brine fly pupae". Year-round, but particularly in the summer, approximately 200 Kucadikadi harvested the pupae at Mono Lake. The pupae can be used to make stew after being dried. Considered a delicacy, the Kucadikadi also traded the pupae with others in the region.<ref name="monolake.org"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.craterlakeinstitute.com/natural-history/nature-notes-frank-lang/alkali-flies.htm|title=Alkali Flies - Nature Notes by Dr. Frank Lang|work=craterlakeinstitute.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.amnh.org/exhibitions/past-exhibitions/water-h2o-life/regeneration/mono-lake|title=Mono Lake|work=AMNH}}</ref> |
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==References== |
==References== |
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{{ |
{{Reflist}} |
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==External links== |
==External links== |
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{{Commons category|Ephydra hians}} |
{{Commons category-inline|Ephydra hians}} |
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* [http://www.walpa.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/image003.jpg Map showing distribution in the United States] (indicated by black squares) |
* [http://www.walpa.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/image003.jpg Map showing distribution in the United States] (indicated by black squares) |
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{{Taxonbar|from=Q3055715}} |
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[[Category:Ephydridae]] |
[[Category:Ephydridae]] |
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[[Category:Insects described in 1830]] |
[[Category:Insects described in 1830]] |
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[[Category:Taxa named by Thomas Say]] |
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[[Category:Diptera of North America]] |
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Latest revision as of 13:04, 15 July 2022
| Ephydra hians | |
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| Ephydra hians at Mono Lake | |
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Diptera |
| Family: | Ephydridae |
| Tribe: | Ephydrini |
| Genus: | Ephydra |
| Species: | E. hians
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| Binomial name | |
| Ephydra hians | |
| Synonyms | |
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Ephydra hians, commonly known as the alkali fly, is a species of fly in the family Ephydridae, the brine flies.[2]
Description
[edit]The body of the adult is dark brown, and roughly 4–7 millimeters (0.16–0.28 in) in length. The thorax reflects a metallic greenish or bluish color, and the wings are smokey brown.[3]
The larva contains a membranous cephalic area, and the rest of the body is divided into 3 thoracic segments and 8 abdominal segments.[3]
Distribution and habitat
[edit]
This species is found mostly in the northwestern United States, as well as in Canada and Mexico. The preferred habitat is in the benthic-littoral zone, in habitats containing large amounts of tufa (a porous limestone deposit). Mono Lake in California has a large population of this species.[4]
Behavior and ecology
[edit]Throughout the summertime, the flies, which live for 3 to 5 days, feed and lay eggs under the surface of the water. Upon hatching, the larvae roam underwater, feeding on algae and bacteria. They remain under the water until they develop into adults, acquiring oxygen supplied by photosynthesis of the algae.[citation needed]
Once in the adult stage, the flies are able to walk upon and beneath the water, feeding on algae. They are able to submerge themselves to depths of up to 24 feet (7.3 m) thanks to short, waxy hairs on their body, which trap a bubble of air around their bodies. This bubble is not consumed by the fly as it clambers down submerged rocks, rather its surface area is used to transpire gasses with the lakewater. In this way, the diving flies can remain submerged for up to 15 minutes in their search for algae or secluded areas for egg-laying.[5] The hypersaline water of their habitat is especially wet, requiring the fly to have extra hair and special waxes to maintain this air bubble. When diving, a force equivalent to roughly 18 times the body weight of the fly is required to break through the surface tension of the water.[6]
Ephydra hians are susceptible to changes in temperature. When the temperature gets colder, their life span prolongs and the individual stages of development take longer. Adult flies do not lay eggs in the winter months due to the inability to undergo adequate development, thus creating a pause in reproduction. These flies also don't surpass a depth of roughly 15 meters due to the frigid temperatures. The favorable temperatures in spring and autumn are most suitable for growth.[4]
You can hold them under water as long as you please--they do not mind it--they are only proud of it. When you let them go, they pop up to the surface as dry as a patent office report, and walk off as unconcernedly as if they had been educated especially with a view to affording instructive entertainment to man in that particular way.
As food for humans
[edit]The Kucadikadi, a band of Northern Paiute people, historically used the pupae of this fly as a source of protein and fat. The name "Kucadikadi" means "eaters of the brine fly pupae". Year-round, but particularly in the summer, approximately 200 Kucadikadi harvested the pupae at Mono Lake. The pupae can be used to make stew after being dried. Considered a delicacy, the Kucadikadi also traded the pupae with others in the region.[2][8][9]
References
[edit]- ^ Say, Thomas (1830). "Descriptions of North American dipterous insects". Journal of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia. 6: 183–8.
- ^ a b "Mono's Alkali Fly: The First Fly You'll Ever Love". monolake.org.
- ^ a b "The biogeography of the Mono Lake alkali fly". sfsu.edu.
- ^ a b Herbst, D.B. (1990). "Distribution and abundance of the alkali fly (Ephydra hians) Say at Mono Lake, California (USA) in relation to physical habitat". In Comín, F.A.; Northcote, T.G. (eds.). Saline Lakes. Developments in Hydrobiology. Vol. 59. Dordrecht: Springer. pp. 193–205. doi:10.1007/978-94-009-0603-7_17. ISBN 978-94-010-6759-1.
- ^ Life in the Great Salt Lake. Department of Botany, Weber State University.
- ^ van Breugel, Floris; Dickinson, Michael H. (2017). "Superhydrophobic diving flies (Ephydra hians) and the hypersaline waters of Mono Lake". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 114 (51): 13483–8. doi:10.1073/pnas.1714874114. PMC 5754803. PMID 29158381.
- ^ "Roughing It, Complete". gutenberg.org.
- ^ "Alkali Flies - Nature Notes by Dr. Frank Lang". craterlakeinstitute.com.
- ^ "Mono Lake". AMNH.
External links
[edit]
Media related to Ephydra hians at Wikimedia Commons
- Map showing distribution in the United States (indicated by black squares)
