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Petroleum Fly

Diasemocera petrolei

Classification

Class
Insecta
Order
Diptera

The petroleum fly, Helaeomyia petrolei (synonym Diasemocera petrolei), is a species of fly from California, USA. The larvae feed on dead insects and other arthropods that become trapped in naturally occurring petroleum pools, making this the only known insect species that develops in crude oil, a substance which is normally highly toxic to insects. Description Adults are about 5 mm long, with black bodies, except for lighter cheeks.

Distribution

(c) Michael S. Caterino & Cristina Sandoval, The Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · CC-BY-SA
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Countries in the Picchu catalog
United States of America · 32