#petroleum fly

[phasma-first-order]

"Tar Pits Are a Death Trap. Except for This Fly."

[astronomy-to-zoology]

Petroleum Fly (Helaeomyia petrolei)

...a species of Ephydrid fly that is endemic to California. These flies get their common name for their tolerance and love of petroleum H. petrolei larvae will develop in crude oil, swimming near the surface with air-tubes protruding above the surface film, they are also able to submerge for noted periods of time.

Petroleum fly larvae ingest large quantities of oil and asphalt on a daily basis and their guts are often seen full of petroleum. Nutritional experiments have shown that they survive off of animal matter which is present in the oil. Their larvae contain ~300,000 heterotrophic bacteria which are special interest to scientists.

Classification

Animalia-Arthropoda-Diptera-Ephydridae-Helaemoyia-H, petrolei

Image: Michael S. Caterino & Cristina Sandoval