Thyreophora cynophila

The lens fly ( Thyreophora cynophila ), also referred to as a dog fly, a fly species of the family of cheese flying is ( Piophilidae ). She was 160 years to be extinct before it was rediscovered in late 2009.

Description

The lens fly reaches a size of about 10 mm. The big swollen head is bright orange-red and phosphorescent. The body is metallic blue. The wings, each showing two dark points.

Way of life

The lens fly lives in dark places and was often found on the carcasses of large animals and livestock such as dogs, mules and horses in the autumn.

Distribution and status

Originally, Central Europe, especially Germany, France, Switzerland and Austria suspected as the main distribution area. 50 years after the description by the German entomologist Georg tanks in 1798, the type had been last seen in the vicinity of Paris. Their disappearance was probably due to the changes in livestock and carcass disposal during the Industrial Revolution. End of 2009 saw an amateur photographer in the Spain's national park " Sierra de Cebollera " an unknown species of fly, which he at first took for a tropical species. In August 2010, a Spanish team was in the same National Park more specimens and confirmed the rediscovery of the lens bow tie.