Moegistorhynchus longirostris explained

Moegistorhynchus longirostris is a keystone species of fly that lives on the west coast of South Africa.^[1]

Anatomy

M. longirostris has a very long proboscis that is believed to be the product of an evolutionary arms race between pollinating insects and long-tubed flowers.

Ecology

The species pollinates, partly or exclusively, at least 20 species of Iridaceae (such as Lapeirousia anceps),^[2] Geraniaceae, and Orchidaceae.

Notes and References

1. Barraclough . David . Slotow . Rob . November 2010 . The South African Keystone Pollinator Moegistorhynchus longirostris (Wiedemann, 1819) (Diptera: Nemestrinidae): Notes on Biology, Biogeography and Proboscis Length Variation . African Invertebrates . 51 . 2 . 397–403 . 10.5733/afin.051.0208 . 86127943 . 1681-5556. free .
2. Web site: Lapeirousia anceps . 2023-07-25 . www.biodiversityexplorer.info.