A small but worldwide family of handsome, elongate flies, of
medium to large size, mydids are usually sparsely pilose and often
resemble wasps. They bear a superficial resemblance to Asilidae
but are distinguished by the long clubbed antennae and wing venation.
Within the regions covered here, the family occurs throughout
Australia, including Tasmania.
Adult mydids occupy a wide variety of habitats and can be locally
common, especially in open country. They are fond of hot, sandy
habitats and can be found resting on bare ground or, less often,
visiting Leptospermum (Myrtaceae) blossoms. At least 2
species are known to occur in rainforests. A number of authors
have discussed the possibility that adult mydids prey upon other
insects. Females dig into the soil with the tip of the abdomen
to lay eggs. Norris (1938) described the eggs and the first 2
instars of Anomalomydas mackerrasi, the only recorded immature
stages of any Australian species. The larvae and pupae of mydids
from other regions are similar to those of the Asilidae.
Refs.: Paramonov (1950e, key), Yeates & Irwin (1996,
cladistics).
ANOMALOMYDAS Papavero & Wilcox, 1974: 9. Type species: Miltinus mackerrasi Norris, 1938, orig. des.
australicus Paramonov, 1950e: 12 (Miltinus). Australia
(SA).
mackerrasi Norris, 1938: 46 (Miltinus). Australia
(WA).
DIOCHLISTUS Gerstaecker, 1868: 73. Type species: Diochlistis
mitis Gerstaecker, 1868, mon.
TRICLONUS Gerstaecker, 1868: 75. Type species: Mydas
auripennis Westwood, 1835, des. Hardy, 1942: 201.
HARMOPHANA Thomson, 1869: 462. Type species: Mydas clavata Macquart, 1850, des. Hardy, 1942: 201.
analogus Paramonov, 1950e: 22. Australia (Qld).
apollinosus Paramonov, 1950e: 23. Australia (SA); Australia
(Vic).
auripennis Westwood, 1835c: 281 (Midas). "Nov
Hollandi "; Australia (NSW, Qld).
fulvipennis Macquart, 1850: 362(58) (Mydas). Australia,
"côte orientale."
edgari Paramonov, 1961d: 107. Australia (Qld).
gracilis Macquart, 1847a: 32 [1847b: 48] (Cephalocera).
"Nouvelle-Hollande"; Australia (NSW, Qld, SA, WA).
bispinifer Westwood, 1848a: 88 (Mydas). "Australia
occidentali."
clavata Macquart, 1850: 363(59) (Mydas). Australia,
"côte orientale." [Preocc. Drury, 1773.]
gracilis Jaennicke, 1867: 353 (Mydas). "Australia."
[Preocc. Macquart, 1834.]
macquarti Schiner, 1868: 153 (Mydas). NZ (NZ), error
[= Australia].
hackeri Paramonov, 1950e: 25. Australia (Qld).
melleipennis Westwood, 1848a: 87 (Mydas). "Australia
occidentali"; Australia (NSW, WA).
clavigera Walker, 1848: 229 (Mydas). "New Holland."
effracta Walker, 1857: 126 (Mydas). "Australia."
flavipes Thomson, 1869: 463 (Harmophana). Australia
(NSW).
mitis Gerstaecker, 1868: 73. Australia (WA); Australia
(SA).
neogracilis Hardy, 1949: 302. Australia (Qld).
nicholsoni Mackerras, 1928: 540. Australia (SA).
paragracilis Paramonov, 1955d: 134. Australia (WA).
tenebrosus Paramonov, 1950e: 29. Australia (NSW).
MILTINUS Gerstaecker, 1868: 88. Type species: Miltinus
cardinalis Gerstaecker, 1868, des. Hardy, 1925: 142.
atripennis Paramonov, 1955d: 134. Australia (WA).
atripes Paramonov, 1950e: 11. Australia (WA).
brunneus Paramonov, 1961d: 105. "S. Australia."
cardinalis Gerstaecker, 1868: 90. Australia (SA); Australia
(Vic, WA).
cinctus Paramonov, 1955d: 135. Australia (WA).
commoni Paramonov, 1950e: 14. Australia (NSW).
confrater Paramonov, 1955d: 134. Australia (WA).
dentipennis Mackerras, 1928: 541. Australia (SA); Australia
(Vic).
erythronotus Paramonov, 1961d: 106. Australia (WA).
insularis Paramonov, 1961d: 105. Australia (WA).
maculipennis Westwood, 1841: 55 (Cephalocera). "Australasia
occidentali"; Australia (WA).
minutus Mackerras, 1928: 543. Australia (WA); Australia
(SA).
musgravei Mackerras, 1928: 542. Australia (SA); Australia
(WA).
norrisi Paramonov, 1950e: 15. Australia (WA).
parviduatus Paramonov, 1950e: 16. Australia (WA).
rieki Paramonov, 1950e: 19. Australia (NSW).
sordidus Westwood, 1848a: 89 (Mydas). Australia
(SA).
limpidipennis Westwood, 1848a: 90 (Mydas). "Australia
occidentali."
stenogaster Westwood, 1841: 53 (Midas). Australia
(WA).
bicolor Westwood, 1841: 53 (Midas). Australia (WA).
haemorrhous Gerstaecker, 1868: 89. Australia (WA).
tenuis Mackerras, 1928: 542. Australia (SA).
varipes Macquart, 1850: 362(58) (Mydas). Australia,
"côte orientale."
viduatus Westwood, 1835c: 281 (Midas). "Nôva
Hollandi ."
concinnus Macquart, 1846: 186(58) (Mydas). "Nouvelle-Hollande."
signata Walker, 1857: 126 (Mydas). "Australia."
viduus, error for viduatus.
NEORHAPHIOMIDAS Norris, 1936: 64. Type species: Neorhaphiomidas
hardyi Norris, 1936, orig. des.
NEORHAPHIOMYDAS, error for Neorhaphiomidas.
hardyi Norris, 1936: 64. Australia (WA).
inermis Paramonov, 1961e: 107. Australia (SA).
norrisi Paramonov, 1953g: 530. Australia (WA).
pallida Paramonov, 1953g: 531. Australia (WA).
pinguis Norris, 1936: 66. Australia (WA).
queenslandensis Daniels, 2013: 597-600. Australia (Qld).
setosa Paramonov, 1953g: 532. Australia (WA).
villosa Paramonov, 1953g: 531. Australia (WA).
incipiens Walker, 1848a: 229 (Mydas). "New Holland?"