#365Insects 25: #Atherix variegata Walker, 1848
While altruism and sociality are seen relatively frequently across insect evolution, a major exception is within the true flies, where the expression of altruistic or social behaviours is virtually unknown. That is, with the exception of Atherix variegata, which just barely manages to squeak onto the altrusim spectrum. Females of this species lay their eggs on structures that hang over streams in communal groups, with many females all congregating together to create large egg masses, which they then proceed stand over, and then die over, providing a shared dipterological shield for their offspring.