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Odontoloxozus longicornis

Odontoloxozus longicornis Coquillett, 1904

Original Published Description:

Coquillett, D. W. (1904).  New North American Diptera. Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington. 6, 166-192.

Common Names

Cactus fly

Languages: English

Overview

Brief Summary

Odontoloxozus longicornis is a neriid cactus fly associated with decaying cacti in the Southwestern United States and arid parts of Mexico and Central America (Ryckman & Olsen 1963). Females oviposit into cracks and crevices of damaged columnar cacti, and the larvae develop in the rotting stem tissues. Adults feed on the exudate of decaying cacti and can also sometimes be found at compost piles.

Females are about 5-7 mm long, while males vary greatly in size ranging from 5 mm to over 1 cm long. Males stake out territories at feeding and oviposition sites, and repeated matings as well as postcopulatory guarding have been observed (Mangan 1979). 

Author(s): Schulz, Katja
Rights holder(s): Schulz, Katja

Taxonomy

  • Nerius longicornis Coquillett, 1904 (synonym)

References

Coquillett, D. W. (1904).  New North American Diptera. Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington. 6, 166-192.
Mangan, R. L. (1979).   Reproductive behavior of the cactus fly, Odontoloxozus longicornis, male territoriality and female guarding as adaptive strategies.. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology. 4, 265-278.
Olson, C. A. (1999).  Insects and the saguaro. (Phillips S.J., Wentworth Comus P., Ed.).A natural history of the Sonoran Desert . 353-355.
Rutowski, R. L., & Alcock J. (1989).  Insect mating systems in the Sonoran Desert of North America.. Journal of Arid Environments. 17, 157-165.
Ryckman, R. F., & Olsen L. E. (1963).  Studies on Odontoloxozus longicornis (Diptera: Neriidae). II Distribution and ecology.. Annals of the Entomological Society of America. 56, 470-472.
Steyskal, G. C. (1968).  Family Neriidae. (PapaveroN., Ed.).A catalogue of the Diptera of the Americas south of the United States. 49, 1-7.
Steyskal, G. C. (1987).  Neriidae. (McAlpineJ F., PetersonB V., ShewellG E., TeskeyH J., VockerothJ R., WoodD M., Ed.).Manual of Neartic Diptera. 1, 769-771. Ottawa, Ontario: Research Branch, Agriculture Canada.