O. livdahli

Amazing new stiletto fly,Ozodiceromyia livdahli

Former undergraduate Stephen D. Gaimari (BA Clark Univ., 1990), who went on to graduate work in entomology culminating in a PhD (Illinois), has discovered a new species of stiletto fly which he has named Ozodiceromyia livdahli.  No ordinary bottom-feeders, the larvae of this spectacular fly, found in Arizona and Mexico between 1000 and 2000 meters elevation, attack grubs and other insect larvae in the soil, including pests of agricultural crops!!

Astonishingly, there seem to be no photos of the larval stages of O. livdahli. The photo above, of a closely related species, will have to suffice for now. Fortunately, Dr. Salvador Vitanza has kindly shared this excellent, rare photo of an adult female:

Don’t miss out!

View excerpts of Dr.Gaimari’s seminal paper describing this species (fear not, the boring parts, i.e. those concerning species other than O. livdahli, have been removed): Abstract, introduction, Species Description, Even more species description, head morphology, distribution, male genitalia

Dr. Gaimari, currently Environmental Program Manager at the Plant Pest Diagnostics Center, California Department of Food & Agriculture, chose to study insects after observing that if his professor could actually make a living doing that, then he certainly could, as well.  While this is not Dr. Gaimari’s first contribution to science, it certainly is his most important to date.