Munjua paralutea

The name Munjua for the genus is from the Aboriginal term munju for fly from the Diyari people of northern South Australia. Paralutea was the unpublished name given to this species by Paramonov. In recognition of the breadth of work that Paramonov completed on the Australian Diptera, the name is retained, and Paramonov is given joint authorship of the species name. The name derives from the Latin par ‘equal’ and luteus ‘yellow’ describing the equal bands of dark and yellow infuscation on the wings.

This beefly has been reported from southern Australia.

This beefly was approximately 10 millimetres long.

Bee flies occur on every continent except Antarctica. While the adults eat nectar and pollen, almost all bee fly larvae are parasites of wasp and bee larvae.

Dr Chris Lambkin adds: The colouring of this species distinguishes it from all other Australian exoprosopines. These strong fliers have been observed feeding on the wing at the uppermost Eucalyptus flowers. In flight the wings and body of these flies appear reddish. When landing on sand in dappled shade the wing pattern provides camouflage. These flies show interesting and significant links to Palearctic and Oriental species, especially members of the Indian Exoprosopa tamerlan group. While the male epandrium has the ‘markedly bulging basal part’ remarked upon by Theodor (1983) the females do not possess the apically sclerotised conical capsules, with a membranous asymmetrical base, and short pump with small end plates of Theodore’s type 5.

We have photographed this species in December and January.

Identification and information courtesy of Dr Chris Lambkin.

An evolutionary radiation of beeflies in semi-arid Australia: systematics of the Exoprosopini (Diptera : Bombyliidae)  https://www.researchgate.net/publication/43447268_An_evolutionary_radiation_of_beeflies_in_semi-arid_Australia_systematics_of_the_Exoprosopini_Diptera_Bombyliidae

Atlas of Living Australia https://bie.ala.org.au/species/https://biodiversity.org.au/afd/taxa/531b76ca-7903-4bf4-be51-628101980b20

Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bombyliidae

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