Spider fly - Spider fly

Japanese: クモバエ - くもばえ

A general term for insects belonging to the Diptera family, Nycteribiidae. Although they are small flies with a body length of 2 to 5 mm, as their name suggests, they have completely degenerated wings, long legs, a very small head, a flattened thorax due to degenerated muscles, and an overall flattened body, making them look like six-legged spiders at first glance. Their compound eyes also tend to degenerate, and some are completely absent. Adults are external parasites of bats, and live on the bat's body, sucking blood, except when the females temporarily leave the host to give birth to larvae (maggots).

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

双翅目クモバエ科Nycteribiidaeに属する昆虫の総称。体長2～5mmの小型のハエであるが，名の示すとおり，翅がまったく退化し，長い脚と非常に小さな頭部，筋肉の退化によって扁平化した胸部，そして全体的に扁平な体つきのため，一見，6本足のクモに見える。複眼も退化する傾向にあり，まったく欠くものもある。成虫はコウモリに外部寄生し，雌が幼虫(うじ)を生むため一時的に寄主を離れることを除けば，つねにコウモリの体上で血を吸って生活する。

出典　株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典第２版について　情報

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