Pallopteridae, or flutter-wing flies (or trembling-wing, or waving-wing flies, because of the striking vibration of the wings in many species) is a family of 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...

. Over 50 species

Species

In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...

 in 15 genera

Genus

In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...

 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. Known larvae are phytophagous or carnivorous

Carnivore

A carnivore meaning 'meat eater' is an organism that derives its energy and nutrient requirements from a diet consisting mainly or exclusively of animal tissue, whether through predation or scavenging...

 (some species preying on beetles - Cerambycidae and Scolytidae. One species is recorded as preying on larvae of Cecidomyiidae

Cecidomyiidae

Cecidomyiidae is a family of flies known as gall midges or gall gnats. As the name implies, the larvae of most gall midges feed within plant tissue, creating abnormal plant growths called galls.These are very fragile small insects usually only 2–3 mm in length and many are less than...

. Some have been found in flower buds and stems.

Identification (Literature)

• Czerny, L.
  Leander Czerny
  Leander Czerny was an Austrian entomologist mainly interested in Diptera....
  
   , 1927:in Lindner,E.
  Erwin Lindner
  Erwin Lindner was a German entomologist mainly interested in Diptera.He was born in Böglins, Memmingen , 7 April 1888 and died in Stuttgart 30 November 1988, aged 100 years....
  
  53a. Helomyzidae, 53b. Trichoscelidae und 53c. Chiromyidae, in: Die Fliegen der palaearktischen Region., Stuttgart. Keys genera.

Species Lists

• West Palaearctic including Russia

• Nearctic

• Australasian/Oceanian

• Japan

Images

See Diptera. info
and Bug Guide

Fossils

Five species in 4 genera are recorded in the fossil record of this family.