Helaeomyia petrolei
| Helaeomyia petrolei | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Diptera |
| Family: | Ephydridae |
| Subfamily: | Discomyzinae |
| Tribe: | Psilopini |
| Genus: | Helaeomyia |
| Species: | H. petrolei |
| Binomial name | |
| Helaeomyia petrolei (Coquillett, 1899) | |
| Synonyms | |
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The petroleum fly, Helaeomyia petrolei (synonym Diasemocera petrolei), is a species of fly from California, USA. The larvae feed on dead insects and other arthropods that become trapped in naturally occurring petroleum pools, making this the only known insect species that develops in crude oil, a substance which is normally highly toxic to insects.