Phorid fly is a 3-star creature card from the Steam Age. Phorid flies lay eggs on fire ants; the larva grows inside and the ant's head falls off.
Bonus by grade
| Grade | Copies needed | Bonus |
|---|---|---|
| Common | 0 | +10% burn damage over time |
| Uncommon | 2 | +18% burn damage over time |
| Rare | 5 | +30% burn damage over time |
| Epic | 10 | +45% burn damage over time |
| Legendary | 20 | +70% burn damage over time |
Duplicates raise the grade: Uncommon at 2, Rare at 5, Epic at 10, Legendary at 20.
Codex
- Common: Pseudacteon flies are tiny parasites of fire ants.
- Uncommon: A female lays an egg on a fire ant.
- Rare: The larva grows inside the ant's head.
- Epic: Eventually the head falls off and the fly develops inside it.
- Legendary: They have been released in the USA to help control fire ants.
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Field guide
| Size | Adults about 0.9–1.5 mm; females are larger than males |
| Nest | Not well known; females hunt near fire ant trails and mounds |
| Diet | Larvae feed inside the ant host; adult diet is not well known |
| Defence | Each species targets just one kind of ant; not a pest of people |
| Active | Not well known |
| Lifespan | Adults live about 3–5 days; egg to adult takes about 5–12 weeks |
| Where it lives | Native to Argentina, Brazil and nearby South America |
Did you know?
- Females hover 3–5 mm above a worker, then dive in and inject one egg.
- Fire ants nearby cut back foraging by almost 84% when the flies are around.
- More than 70 Pseudacteon species are known, and each is very specific to its host ant.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org