Biology

Feeding habits

In the laboratory, this species has been observed to only take frozen banana smoothies and peanut-butter bread. Observations in the wild indicate that M. rudolphus will avoid any edible material if it has bones or carapace.

Reproduction

This species relies on 'sibling altruism' for propogation.
[This section should be any additional data that pertains to the animal's life history]

Diagnosis

Adult Meiera rudolphus resembles Sepsis coprophila, but can be clearly differentiated from the latter (as well as other Sepsis) via the human-like cranial capsule as well as the shades that it usually dons.
[This section should be a short paragraph or two on how to differentiate this species from the rest]

Description

Adult

Color: Body is mostly yellowish-orange, with darker brown sections on the dorsal side of the thorax and abdomen. The shades worn by the fly are usually black to dark grey in color.
Head: Has a human like head, complete with short, curly setae on the vertex. It is always seen with cool shades.
Thorax: With 2 dorsocentrals and 2 ischials. Katepisternum fully pruinose while anepisternum is pruinose on the posterior half. Scutum and scutellum fully pruinose.
Abdomen: With a pair of strong setae at the posterior margin of every segment.
Genitalia: Not known, as it is wearing pants all the time.
Legs: Long and skinny, resembling chicken's feet.

Larva

The larvae of M. rudolphus resembles the adult forms (which is very peculiar for a holometabolous insect), however, the head capsule has much more mollisetae on the vertex region, and resembles an afro.
[This section should be a detailed description of the animal's morphology]

Distribution

Meiera rudolphus has been observed from Germany and Copenhagen in the 1990s, but its occurence appears to have shifted to the Oriental region, specifically at the National University of Singapore.
[This section should describe where the animal has been found before, and hence its biogeographical distribution. Maps will work very well here.]

Type Information

The holotype for Meiera rudolphus is currently stored at S2-02-01, Dept of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, 14 Science Drive 4, Singapore 117543
[This section should contain specific information on where any specimen material is deposited. This will allow other researchers to know where to look for it during future taxonomic work]

Literature and References

Click here for the original description of Meiera rudolphus
Click here for the webpage containing the work of Meiera rudolphus
[This section should be any additional data not covered under the above headings, such as Genbank Records]