Acalyptratae
Encyclopedia
Acalyptratae is a subsection of Schizophora
, commonly referred to as the acalyptrate muscoids (or simply acalyptrates). It is a very large assemblage, exhibiting very diverse habits, with one notable and perhaps surprising exception; there are no known acalyptrates that are obligate blood-feeders (hematophagous), though this is a life history that is common throughout the remaining Diptera
.
The name Acalypterae was first used by Justin Pierre Marie Macquart
in 1835 for a Section of his tribu Muscides for all acalyptrates (except conopids
) plus scathophagids
and phorids.
The name refers to the lack of calypter
s in the members of this group of flies.
Schizophora
Schizophora is a section of true flies containing 78 families, which are collectively referred to as muscoids, even though - technically - the term "muscoid" should be limited to flies in the superfamily Muscoidea; this is an example of informal, historical usage persisting in the vernacular...
, commonly referred to as the acalyptrate muscoids (or simply acalyptrates). It is a very large assemblage, exhibiting very diverse habits, with one notable and perhaps surprising exception; there are no known acalyptrates that are obligate blood-feeders (hematophagous), though this is a life history that is common throughout the remaining Diptera
Diptera
Diptera , or true flies, is the order of insects possessing only a single pair of wings on the mesothorax; the metathorax bears a pair of drumstick like structures called the halteres, the remnants of the hind wings. It is a large order, containing an estimated 240,000 species, although under half...
.
The name Acalypterae was first used by Justin Pierre Marie Macquart
Justin Pierre Marie Macquart
Justin Pierre Marie Macquart was a French entomologist specialising in the study of Diptera. He worked on world species as well as European and described many new species.-Early years:...
in 1835 for a Section of his tribu Muscides for all acalyptrates (except conopids
Conopidae
Conopidae, usually known as the thick-headed flies, is a family of flies within the Brachycera suborder of Diptera. Flies of the family Conopidae are distributed worldwide except for the poles and many of the Pacific islands. About 800 species in 47 genera are described worldwide, approximately 70...
) plus scathophagids
Scathophagidae
The Scathophagidae is a small family of Muscoidea which are often known as "Dung-flies" although this name is not appropriate except for a few species of the genus Scathophaga which do indeed pass their larval stages in animal dung. The name probably derives from the "Common Yellow Dung-fly", S...
and phorids.
The name refers to the lack of calypter
Calypter
A calypter is either of two posterior lobes of the posterior margin of the forewing of flies between the extreme posterior wing base and the alula, which covers the halteres....
s in the members of this group of flies.
Classification
- Subsection Acalyptratae
- Superfamily Conopoidea
- ConopidaeConopidaeConopidae, usually known as the thick-headed flies, is a family of flies within the Brachycera suborder of Diptera. Flies of the family Conopidae are distributed worldwide except for the poles and many of the Pacific islands. About 800 species in 47 genera are described worldwide, approximately 70...
- Conopidae
- Superfamily TephritoideaTephritoideaThe Tephritoidea are a superfamily of flies. The following families are included:* Lonchaeidae - lance flies* Pallopteridae - flutter flies* Piophilidae - skippers* Platystomatidae - signal flies* Pyrgotidae* Richardiidae* Tephritidae - fruit flies...
- LonchaeidaeLonchaeidaeLonchaeidae is a family of acalyptrate flies commonly known as lance flies. There are about 500 described species in 9 genera. These are generally small but robustly built flies with blue-black or metallic bodies...
- PallopteridaePallopteridaePallopteridae, or flutter-wing flies is a family of Diptera. Over 50 species in 15 genera are found in the temperate regions of the Northern and Southern hemispheres.-Biology:Little is known. Adults have been found on flowers and low hanging branches in shady habits...
- Piophilidae
- PlatystomatidaePlatystomatidaePlatystomatidae is a distinctive family of flies . Signal flies are worldwide in distribution predominating in the tropics. It is one of the larger families of acalyptrate Diptera with around 1200 species in 119 genera.-Biology:...
- PyrgotidaePyrgotidaePyrgotidae is an unusual family of flies , one of only two families of Diptera that lack ocelli. Most species are "picture-winged", as is typical among Tephritoidea, but, unlike other tephritoids they are endoparasitoids; the females pursue scarab beetles in flight, laying an egg on the beetle's...
- RichardiidaeRichardiidaeRichardiidae is a family of Diptera in the superfamily Tephritoidea.This is a small family that consists of 30 genera and 175 species. Almost all species are Neotropical. Generally the biology of Richardiidae is little known. Some of the larvae are plant feeders or saprophages in decaying plant...
- TephritidaeTephritidaeTephritidae is one of two fly families referred to as "fruit flies", the other family being Drosophilidae. Tephritidae does not include the biological model organisms of the genus Drosophila , which is often called the "common fruit fly". There are nearly 5,000 described species of tephritid...
- Ulidiidae
- Lonchaeidae
- Superfamily NerioideaNerioideaNerioidea is a superfamily of Acalyptratae flies....
- CypselosomatidaeCypselosomatidaeCypselosomatidae is a family of true flies closely related to the Micropezidae . There are 3 living genera and one fossil. The living species are believed to be associated with bat guano....
- MicropezidaeMicropezidaeThe Micropezidae are a moderate-sized family of acalyptrate muscoid flies in the insect order Diptera, comprising about 500 species in about 50 genera and 5 subfamilies worldwide,...
- NeriidaeNeriidaeNeriidae is a family of true flies closely related to the Micropezidae. Some species are known as cactus flies while others have been called banana stalk flies and the family was earlier treated as subfamily of the Micropezidae which are often called stilt-legged flies...
- Cypselosomatidae
- Superfamily DiopsoideaDiopsoideaThe Diopsoidea is a small but diverse cosmopolitan superfamily of acalyptrate muscoids, especially prevalent in the tropics. There is some flux in the family constituency of this group , and the final classification is likely to require the use of molecular systematics....
- Diopsidae
- GobryidaeGobryidaeGobryidae is a family of five species in the genus Gobrya. Walker described the genus in 1860. They are relatively rare and found only in Taiwan, Indonesia, and the Philippines. Gobryids are brilliantly metallic blue in coloration and their heads are wider than the rest of their body. Very little...
- MegamerinidaeMegamerinidaeMegamerinidae is a family of flies with about 11 species in the genera Protexara Yang Megamerina Rondani, and Texara Walker. They are marked by an elongate, basally constricted abdomen...
- Nothybidae
- PsilidaePsilidaePsilidae is family of two-winged flies. Commonly called the rust flies, there are at least 38 species in 4 genera. The Carrot fly is a member of this group.-Family Description:...
- Somatiidae
- Syringogastridae
- StrongylophthalmyiidaeStrongylophthalmyiidaeStrongylophthalmyiidae is a small family of about 45 species of slender, long-legged flies. The majority of these occurring the Oriental and Australasian Regions. They are divided into two genera, the monotypic Southeast Asian genus Nartshukia Shatalkin, 1993 and Strongylophthalmyia Heller, 1902...
- TanypezidaeTanypezidaeTanypezidae is a small family of medium-sized true flies found in the Nearctic Palaearctic and Neotropic zoogeographic regions. Some species have luminous silver or gold coloration.-Taxonomy:...
- Superfamily SciomyzoideaSciomyzoideaSciomyzoidea is a superfamily of Acalyptratae flies.The families placed here are:* Coelopidae – seaweed flies* Dryomyzidae* Helosciomyzidae * Ropalomeridae* Heterocheilidae* Sepsidae – scavenger flies...
- CoelopidaeCoelopidaeCoelopidae or kelp flies are a family of Acalyptratae Diptera, they are sometimes also called seaweed flies, though this term is used for a number of seashore diptera...
- DryomyzidaeDryomyzidaeDryomyzidae is a small family of flies.There are about 22 species in 6 genera Dryomyzidae are mostly found in the Holarctic Region although some are found in the Southern Hemisphere....
- HelosciomyzidaeHelosciomyzidaeHelosciomyzidae is a very small family of flies. They comprise nine genera and 22 species.-Distribution:All are know from the Southern Hemisphere. With the exception of the South American genus Sciogriphoneura the family occurs in Australia, New Zealand.-Classification:*Cobergius Barnes, 1981*C....
(sometimes in Sciomyzidae) - Heterocheilidae
- Ropalomeridae
- SepsidaeSepsidaeSepsidae are a family of flies, commonly called the black scavenger flies or ensign flies. There are approximately 250 species worldwide. They are usually found around dung or decaying plant and animal material. Many species resemble ants having a "waist" and glossy black body...
- SciomyzidaeSciomyzidaeThe family Sciomyzidae belongs to the typical flies of the order Diptera. They are commonly called marsh flies, and in some cases snail-killing flies due to the food of their larvae....
(including Huttoninidae, Phaeomyiidae, Tetanoceridae)
- Coelopidae
- Superfamily SphaeroceroideaSphaeroceroideaSphaeroceroidea is a superfamily of flies. It includes the cosmopolitan families of Sphaeroceridae , Heleomyzidae, and Chyromyidae, as well as a few smaller groups....
- ChyromyidaeChyromyidaeChyromyidae are small to very small cyclorrhaphous, acalypterate flies currently classified within the Heleomyzoidea by most authors. The majority have a pale yellow integument and bright iridescent green, red or purple eyes. The family is represented in all continents except Antarctica. There are...
- HeleomyzidaeHeleomyzidaeHeleomyzidae is a small family of true flies in the insect order Diptera. There are over 650 described species of Heleomyzidae in about 80 genera and 22 tribes distributed throughout the world; the greatest number occur in the Holarctic Region. Approximately 100 species of Heleomyzidae are found in...
- Nannodastiidae
- SphaeroceridaeSphaeroceridaeSphaeroceridae are a family of true flies in the order Diptera, often called small dung flies, lesser dung flies or lesser corpse flies due to their saprophagous habits. They belong to the typical fly suborder Brachycera as can be seen by their short antennae, and more precisely they are members of...
- Chyromyidae
- Superfamily LauxanioideaLauxanioideaLauxanioidea is a superfamily of flies that includes the two large families, the Lauxaniidae and Chamaemyiidae, and the small families Eurychoromyiidae and Celyphidae. Generally they are small to medium, densely populated, coloured flies. Chamaemyiidae and Cremifaniidae live as parasites on insects...
- CelyphidaeCelyphidaeCelyphidae, commonly known as beetle flies or beetle-backed flies, are a family of flies . About 90 species are known from the Oriental and Afrotropic biogeographic regions.-Description:...
- ChamaemyiidaeChamaemyiidaeChamaemyiidae is a small family of acalyptrate flies with less than 200 species described worldwide. The larvae of these small flies are active and predatory and are often used for biological control of aphids, scale insects and similar pests...
- EurychoromyiidaeEurychoromyiidaeEurychoromyia mallea, the broad-headed fly, is a species of fly, the only species in the family Eurychoromyiidae.In 1903, C. A. W. Schnuse, collecting at Sarampiuni in the foothills of the Bolivian Andes, took 4 specimens, all female, of a fly with a strange broad, flat head...
- LauxaniidaeLauxaniidaeLauxaniidae is a family of acalyptrate flies. It contains around 1800 described species in 126 genera distributed worldwide. These are generally small flies with large compound eyes, often brightly coloured in life. Many species have different patterned wings...
- Celyphidae
- Superfamily OpomyzoideaOpomyzoideaOpomyzoidea is a superfamily of flies.-External links:*...
- AgromyzidaeAgromyzidaeThe family Agromyzidae is commonly referred to as the leaf-miner flies, for the feeding habit of larvae, most of which are leaf miners on various plants....
- AnthomyzidaeAnthomyzidaeAnthomyzidae are small, slender, yellow to black flies with narrow and elongate wings, which may have distinct markings. Some species have greatly reduced wings. Fewer than 100 species are known, mostly from Europe. Although they occur in all major regions, they seem to be most varied in the...
- AsteiidaeAsteiidaeAsteiidae is a small but widespread family of acalyptrate flies or Diptera. About 130 species in 10 genera have been described worldwide.They are rarely collected.-Family description:...
- AulacigastridaeAulacigastridaeAulacigastridae is a very small family of flies known as sap flies. The family Stenomicridae used to be included within this family, but was moved by Papp in 1984....
- ClusiidaeClusiidaeClusiidae or "druid flies" is a family of small , thin, yellow to black acalyptrate flies with a characteristic antenna and with the wing usually partially infuscated. The larvae are notable for their ability to jump. Males of many species in the subfamily Clusiodinae have been observed while...
- Fergusoninidae
- Marginidae
- Neminidae
- Neurochaetidae
- OdiniidaeOdiniidaeOdiniidae is a small family of flies. There are only 58 described species but there are representatives in all the major biogeographic realms....
- OpomyzidaeOpomyzidaeOpomyzidae is a family of acalyptrate Diptera. They are generally small, slender, yellow, brown or black coloured flies. The larval food plants are grasses, including cereal crops, the adults are mainly found in open habitats...
- Periscelididae
- Teratomyzidae
- Xenasteiidae
- Agromyzidae
- Superfamily EphydroideaEphydroideaEphydroidea is a superfamily of flies....
- CamillidaeCamillidaeCamillidae is a family of flies, or Diptera. There are five genera .-Biology:The lifestyle of the Camillidae is for the most part little known. There is an assumption that the larvae feed on decaying plant matter or animal faeces. Adults have frequently been found at the entrances of mammal...
- CurtonotidaeCurtonotidaeCurtotonidae is a small family of small grey to dark brown humpbacked flies with a worldwide distribution but with very few species in the Nearctic, Australasian/Oceanian and Palaearctic regions. Most members of the family are found in tropical to subtropical latitudes in Africa and the Neotropics...
- DiastatidaeDiastatidaeDiastatidae are a type of flies, and are in the family Diptera. They occur primarily in the Holarctic Region, but several species are known from the Oriental, Neotropical, and Australasian regions. Members of the family number over 20 described species in three genera...
- EphydridaeEphydridaeEphydridae is a family of insects in the order Diptera.Shore flies are tiny flies that can be found near seashores or at smaller inland waters, such as ponds...
- DrosophilidaeDrosophilidaeDrosophilidae is a diverse, cosmopolitan family of flies, which includes fruit flies. Another family of flies called Tephritidae also includes fruit flies. The best known species of Drosophilidae is Drosophila melanogaster, within the genus Drosophila, and this species Is used extensively for...
- Camillidae
- Superfamily CarnoideaCarnoideaCarnoidea are a superfamily of Acalyptratae flies.-External links:*, Dedicated website...
- Acartophthalmidae
- Australimyzidae
- BraulidaeBraulidaeBraulidae, or bee lice, is a flies family that contains eight species in two genera, Braula and Megabraula. These are very unusual flies, wingless and flattened, and barely recognizable as Diptera....
- CanacidaeCanacidaeCanacidae, incorrectly Canaceidae, or beach flies, surf or surge flies, is a family of Diptera.There are 113 species in 12 genera.-Family description:See Drawings of Canace.-References:...
- CarnidaeCarnidaeCarnidae is a family of flies . There are 5 genera, containing about 88 species worldwide....
- ChloropidaeChloropidaeChloropidae is a family of flies commonly known as frit flies or grass flies. There are approximately 2000 described species in over 160 genera distributed worldwide. These are usually very small flies, yellow or black and appearing shiny due to the virtual absence of any hairs. The majority of the...
- Cryptochetidae
- Inbiomyiidae
- MilichiidaeMilichiidaeMilichiidae are a family of flies. Most species are very small and dark in colour. Details of their biology have not yet been properly studied, but they are best known as kleptoparasites of predatory invertebrates, and accordingly are commonly known as freeloader flies or jackal flies...
- TethinidaeTethinidaeTethinidae, included now into the family Canacidae s.l., is a paraphyletic group of tiny drab-coloured or grey acalypterate flies . Over 180 species in 16 genera are known from all zoogeographic regions.They are inconspicuous flies which are still poorly known in some remote, huge, tropical areas...
- Acalyptratae Incertae Sedis
- CtenostylidaeCtenostylidaeThe enigmatic fly family Ctenostylidae is a small group of very rare flies formerly included in the family Pyrgotidae ; the principal reason for their inclusion in the Pyrgotidae was the absence of ocelli, a feature originally thought to be a unique defining feature of the Pyrgotidae...
- Ctenostylidae
- Superfamily Conopoidea