Long-legged Flies

Dolichopodidae, the long-legged flies, are a large, cosmopolitan family of true flies with more than 7,000 described species in about 230 genera. The genus ''Dolichopus'' is the most speciose, with some 600 species.

Dolichopodidae generally are small flies with large, prominent eyes and a metallic cast to their appearance, though there is considerable variation among the species. Most have long legs, though some do not. In many species, the males have unusually large genitalia which are taxonomically useful in identifying species. Most adults are predatory on other small animals, though some may scavenge or act as kleptoparasites of spiders or other predators.

An expanded concept of the family (Dolichopodidae ''sensu lato'') includes the subfamilies Parathalassiinae and Microphorinae. The latter of these was formerly placed in the Empididae, and was at one time considered a separate family (Microphoridae). However, some authors propose instead that Dolichopodidae ''s.l.'' should be known as the epifamily Dolichopodoidae, containing Dolichopodidae, Microphoridae (restored as a family) and the subfamily Parathalassiinae.

Description

For clarification of technical terms see Morphology of Diptera

Dolichopodidae are a family of flies ranging in size from minute to medium-sized (1mm to 9mm). They have characteristically long and slender legs, though their leg length is not as striking as in families such as the Tipulidae. Their posture often is stilt-like standing high on their legs, with the body almost erect. In colour most species have a green-to-blue metallic lustre, but various other species are dull yellow, brown or black.

The frons in both sexes is broad. The eyes are separated on the frons of males, except in some species of ''Diaphorus'' and ''Chrysotus'' in which eyes touch above the antennal insertion. On the heads of most species the ocellar bristles and outer vertical bristles are well developed. The face of some species is entire; in others it is divided into two sections: the epistoma and the clypeus. The largest antennal segment is the third; in most species it bears a long arista, which is apical in some species, dorsal in others. In most species the mouthparts are short and have a wide aperture as an adaptation for sucking small prey.

The legs are gracile and the tibiae usually bear long bristles. In some genera the legs are raptorial. In some species the tibiae of the males have modifications.

The wings of most species are clear or tinged, but some species have wings that are patterned in strong colours or with distinct spots. There are three radial veins (R₁, R₂₊₃, R₄₊₅). The medial vein M₁₊₂ is simple or rarely furcate, as in the genus ''Sciapus''. The anterior cross-vein is in the basal part of the wing. The posterior basal wing cell and the discoidal wing cell are always fused. The anal cell of the wing is always small. There are two veins branching from cross-vein DM-Cu in the direction of the wing margin; the upper one in some species curves strongly or forks into M₁ and M₂. R₄₊₅ are simple, and costa ends near or at M₁/M_1+2, or continues along the wing margin. The point of origin of R_s is at or very close to h.


The abdomen is elongate-conical or flat. The genitalia of the male often are free and borne on a petiole, with tergite 8 being asymmetrical, lying on the left side of the epandrium. They are also rotated dextrally between 90° and 180°, including segment 8 and sometimes segment 7, which makes them distinguishable from the family Hybotidae. Males of most species have well developed gonopods of two or three lobes on the distal margin of the epandrium. The gonopods may fuse with the epandrium in genera such as ''Hydrophorus'', ''Thrypticus'' and ''Argyra'', or there may be a suture, as in the genera ''Porphyrops'', ''Xiphandrium'' and ''Rhaphium''. In some genera, such as ''Hypophyllus'' and ''Tachytrechus'', the surstyli are well-developed as secondary outgrowths of the epandrium. In genera such as ''Tachytrechus'', there are two pairs of surstyli—one proximal and one distal. The hypandrium in most species is a small sclerite, which may be asymmetrical as in the genera ''Porphyrops'' and ''Tachytrechus''. Males of many species have highly developed cerci. Development of the phallus varies considerably between genera.

Biology

Adults of the Dolichopodidae live largely in grassy places and shrubbery. The flies occur in a wide range of habitats, near water or in meadows, woodland edges and in gardens. Some groups are confined to wet places including sands on the banks of water bodies; examples include genera such as ''Porphyrops'', ''Tachytrechus'', ''Campsicnemus'', and ''Teuchophorus''. No truly aquatic species have been described, but many are semi-aquatic and live in or near water margins. A small number of species develop on the shores of saline inland bodies of water or the intertidal zone of seashores. An example of a species that develop close to water is '' P. nobilitatus,'' they can be found congregating around lakes and ponds. Other groups are found on trunks of trees damaged by bark beetles. Adults often are seen in a characteristic predatory posture standing high on their legs on the ground or on vegetation, tree trunks or rocks, and some species walk about on the surface of still water.

The adults are predators, feeding on small invertebrates including Collembola, aphids, and the larvae of Oligochaeta. Species of the genus ''Dolichopus'' commonly prey on the larvae of mosquitoes.

The larvae occupy a wide range of habitats. Many are predators of small invertebrates and generally live in moist environments such as soil, moist sand, or rotting organic matter. Genera such as ''Medetera'' live as predators under tree bark or in the tunnels of bark beetles. Larvae of the genus ''Thrypticus'' are unusual among Dolichopodidae, in that they are phytophagous and live in the stems of reeds and other monocots near water.

Behaviour

Many studies have shown that Dolichopodidae give visual, rather than chemical or other signals during courtship.
The males of many species exhibit elaborate secondary sexual characters assumed to aid in species recognition during courtship. These characters include flaglike flattening of the arista and tarsi, strongly modified setae and projections of the tarsi, the prolongation and deformation of podomeres, orientated silvery pruinosity, and maculation or modification of the wings.

Evolution and systematics

Dolichopodids are well represented in amber deposits throughout the world and the group has clearly been well distributed since the Cretaceous at the latest. Together with the Empididae they are the most advanced members of the Empidoidea. They represent the bulk of Empidoidea diversity, and include more than two-thirds of the known species in their superfamily.

Taxonomic interrelationships within the Dolichopodidae, and their delimitation from the Empididae, are not yet satisfactorily resolved. It is likely that many of the subfamilies currently within the Dolichopodidae will undergo drastic revision.Sinclair and Cumming (2006), Moulton and Wiegmann (2007)

Based on the most recent phylogenetic studies, the relationship between Dolichopodidae and other members of Empidoidea is as follows. The placement of Dolichopodidae is emphasized in bold formatting.

Identification

* Negrobov, P. and Stackelberg, A. A. Family Dolichopodidae in Bei-Bienko, G. Ya, 1988 ''Keys to the insects of the European Part of the USSR'' Volume 5 (Diptera) Part 2 English edition. Keys to Palaearctic species but now needs revision.
* Parent, O., 1938 Diptères Dolichopodidae. Paris: Éditions ''Faune de France'' 35
virtuelle numérique

Species lists

Palaearctic species list





Japan species list

See also

* List of dolichopodid genera

Footnotes

References

*
* (2007)
''Neurigona'' courtship
Version of 2007-JUN-18. Retrieved 2008-JUL-30.
*
* (2007)
Observations on ''Medetera jacula'' (Fallén, 1823)
Version of 2007-JAN-22. Retrieved 2008-JUL-30.
*
*

External links

Bug Guide
images

Diptera.info
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Family Dolichopodidae at EOL
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* Dolichopodidae in Italian

Igor Grichanov Dolichopodidae home page






University of Lille
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Extant Cretaceous first appearances