Rhaphiomidas trochilus (Valley Mydas Fly)

[Melanie]

The sister taxon, Rhaphiomidas trochilus, which Rogers and Mattoni regard as a subspecies of terminatus, was recently found by Ballmer on a small site in the San Joaquin valley. The (sub)species was thought extinct for over fifty years prior to Ballmerís discovery.

Occurance: riverine dunes in the Central Valley

www.nadsdiptera.org/News/FlyTimes/issue26.htm

aka Giant flower-loving fly

[surroundx]

Hummingbird-like Flower-loving Fly Faces Extinction Following Federal Delay

www.biologicaldiversity.org/news/press_releases/2018/san-joaquin-valley-giant-flower-loving-fly-02-22-2018.php

[surroundx]

They Thought It Was Extinct, But This Kern County Bug Was Just Flying Under The Radar

www.kvpr.org/post/they-thought-it-was-extinct-kern-county-bug-was-just-flying-under-radar

[koeiyabe]

explorer.natureserve.org/servlet/NatureServe?searchName=Rhaphiomidas+trochilus

[koeiyabe]

“Extinct & Endangered: Insects in Peril” by AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY (2022)

[koeiyabe]

Powell, J. A. (1983). Changes in the insect fauna of a deteriorating riverine sand dune community during 50 years of human exploitation. Report. US Fish and Wildlife Service, Sacramento.

Last record before its rediscovery: July 18, 1974

[koeiyabe]

www.biologicaldiversity.org/species/invertebrates/pdfs/2020-8-20-San-Joaquin-Valley-Giant-Flower-loving-Fly-NOI.pdf