Paul Allen's flower fly facts for kids

Paul Allen's flower fly (Eristalis alleni) is a special type of flower fly. It looks a bit like a bee, but it's actually a fly! This tiny insect lives only in the beautiful forests of Costa Rica. Costa Rica is a country in Central America. This fly got its name from a famous person, Paul Allen. He was one of the co-founders of Microsoft. Another fly was also named after Allen's friend, Bill Gates, called Bill Gates' flower fly (Eristalis gatesi).

Meet Paul Allen's Flower Fly

Paul Allen's flower fly is quite unique. It was discovered and named in 1997. It's one of two flies named after the founders of Microsoft. This fly is similar to two other types of flower flies. These are Eristalis circe and Eristalis persa. However, Paul Allen's flower fly has different colors on its legs. This helps scientists tell them apart.

Where Does It Live?

This special fly lives only in the central highlands of Costa Rica. This area is known for its lush forests. These forests are full of different plants and animals. The fly needs this specific environment to survive.

What Does It Eat?

Scientists don't know a lot about the daily life of Paul Allen's flower fly. But they have noticed something interesting. Most adult flies are found near flowers. These flowers belong to a group called Senecio. This suggests that the flies visit these flowers. They likely feed on the nectar or pollen from them. This is how many flower flies get their food.

See also

In Spanish: Mosca Paul Allen para niños