Asilomorpha
Encyclopedia
The Brachycera
n infraorder Asilomorpha is a large and diverse group of flies, containing the bulk of the non-muscoid
Brachycera.
The larva
e of asilomorphs are extremely diverse in habits, as well.
are the sister taxon to the Muscomorpha
(used here in the same sense as the traditional Cyclorrhapha
, not following the Tree of Life Web Project
system in this one instance). However, these modern classifications are non-Linnaean, and - while relatively easy to visualize on a phylogenetic tree diagram - do not lend themselves to any classification that uses Linnaean ranks (see discussion for details). There are also some classifications that place the Nemestrinoidea
within the Tabanomorpha, though this is not widely accepted.
Brachycera
Brachycera is a suborder of Diptera. It is a major suborder consisting of around 120 families. The most distinguishing characteristic of the suborder is reduced antenna segmentation...
n infraorder Asilomorpha is a large and diverse group of flies, containing the bulk of the non-muscoid
Muscomorpha
The Brachyceran infraorder Muscomorpha is a large and diverse group of flies, containing the bulk of the Brachycera, and, in fact, most of the known flies. It includes a number of the most familiar flies, such as the housefly, the fruit fly and the blowfly. The antennae are short, usually...
Brachycera.
The larva
Larva
A larva is a distinct juvenile form many animals undergo before metamorphosis into adults. Animals with indirect development such as insects, amphibians, or cnidarians typically have a larval phase of their life cycle...
e of asilomorphs are extremely diverse in habits, as well.
Classification
In most modern classifications, the infraorder Asilomorpha is not recognized, as it is paraphyletic; the EmpidoideaEmpidoidea
The Empidoidea are a large monophyletic superfamily of true flies, the sister taxon to the Muscomorpha . These two groups are sometimes united in the unranked taxon Eremoneura...
are the sister taxon to the Muscomorpha
Muscomorpha
The Brachyceran infraorder Muscomorpha is a large and diverse group of flies, containing the bulk of the Brachycera, and, in fact, most of the known flies. It includes a number of the most familiar flies, such as the housefly, the fruit fly and the blowfly. The antennae are short, usually...
(used here in the same sense as the traditional Cyclorrhapha
Cyclorrhapha
Cyclorrhapha is an unranked taxon within the infraorder Muscomorpha. They are called "Cyclorrhapha" with reference to the circular aperture through which the adult escapes the puparium...
, not following the Tree of Life Web Project
Tree of Life Web Project
The Tree of Life Web Project is an ongoing Internet project providing information about the diversity and phylogeny of life on Earth. This collaborative peer reviewed project began in 1995, and is written by biologists from around the world....
system in this one instance). However, these modern classifications are non-Linnaean, and - while relatively easy to visualize on a phylogenetic tree diagram - do not lend themselves to any classification that uses Linnaean ranks (see discussion for details). There are also some classifications that place the Nemestrinoidea
Nemestrinoidea
The Nemestrinoidea are a small, monophyletic superfamily of flies, whose relationship to the remaining Brachycera is uncertain; they are sometimes grouped with the Tabanomorpha rather than the Asilomorpha. They are presently considered to be the sister taxon to the Asiloidea...
within the Tabanomorpha, though this is not widely accepted.