Hawaii Biological Survey’s

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91. Flightless Long-legged Fly

Scientific name: Campsicnemus haleakalaae

Hawaiian Name: —

Classification: Phylum: Arthropoda. Class: Insecta: Order: Diptera. Family: Dolichopodidae.

Origin: Endemic.

Status: Restricted population.

Distribution: Found only on the upper slopes and summit of Haleakala on Maui.

Map: —


So, is a fly without wings really called a walk? Most of this little guy’s relatives have wings but this one has them reduced to thin strips and cannot fly. Why? Probably because it doesn’t need to fly to survive where it occurs—the windy summit of Haleakala. If it tried to fly, it might be blown away! So it safely hunkers down on the ground.

   Photo © William P. Mull