There are quite a few who do know a good deal, however. Among the avant-garde of gardeners there are those who are quite familiar with this insect.
Its original home is in the continent of America. Now it is probably found world-wide. Looking up the recorded distribution in France, I find it is recorded in departments along the Atlantic Coast and here and there elsewhere, but not in the Department of the Lot, till now.
This large fly (16 mms long) was sitting on a window frame, looking almost moribund, which it probably was, for the adult only lives a few days. It cannot eat and is but a reproductive element in the life cycle, in the same manner that exists with mayflies. I thought at first that it was a species of horsefly (Tabanid) but the length of the antennae seemed to suggest otherwise. Then what attracted my attention strikingly were the two transparent discs on the forepart of the abdomen. One can see right through the body like windows.
This insect is, as a larva, a maggot, a voracious scavenger of both plant and animal remains.
Further reading tells me that the insect is actually 'cultivated' to reduce compost and food waste. The larvae can be used as chicken feed and even it is suggested as human food.
The adults live for a few days, in which they mate, lay eggs and then die.
The references in general say that it causes no disease problems and is probably most useful in clearing up the waste generated by us humans.
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