The Micropezidae are a moderate-sized family of

acalyptrate muscoid The Acalyptratae or Acalyptrata are a subsection of the Schizophora, which are a section of the order Diptera, the "true flies". In various contexts the Acalyptratae also are referred to informally as the acalyptrate muscoids, or acalyptrates, ...

flies in the insect order Diptera, comprising about 500 species in about 50 genera and five subfamilies worldwide, (except

New Zealand New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest island count ...

and

Macquarie Island Macquarie Island is an island in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, about halfway between New Zealand and Antarctica. Regionally part of Oceania and politically a part of Tasmania, Australia, since 1900, it became a Tasmanian State Reserve in 197 ...

).McAlpine, D.K. (1998). Review of the Australian stilt flies (Diptera: Micropezidae) with a phylogenetic analysis of the family. ''Invertebrate Taxonomy'' 12:55–134. (with key to Australian species) They are most diverse in tropical and subtropical habitats, especially in the

Neotropical Region The Neotropical realm is one of the eight biogeographic realms constituting Earth's land surface. Physically, it includes the tropical terrestrial ecoregions of the Americas and the entire South American temperate zone. Definition In biogeo ...

. Insects in this family are commonly called stilt-legged flies, after their characteristically long legs. The fore legs are markedly smaller than the other pairs. Mostly, they are long-bodied, often black flies, usually with infuscated (darkened) wings. Wings are reduced in the genera '' Calycopteryx'' and entirely absent in the ant-like ''

Badisis ambulans ''Badisis'' is a stilt-legged fly genus with only one known species, ''Badisis ambulans''. This is a wingless, haltere-less fly with an ant-like appearance. It is only found in the Southwest Australian bioregion of Western Australia. Dependent ...

''.

Description

For terms see

Morphology of Diptera Dipteran morphology differs in some significant ways from the broader morphology of insects. The Diptera is a very large and diverse order of mostly small to medium-sized insects. They have prominent compound eyes on a mobile head, and (at most) ...

Very slender, small to large (3–16 mm) flies, they have long, thin legs and narrow wings. The head is small and elongated or rounded. The antennae are small and the arista is bare or pubescent. Ocelli are present, but ocellar bristles are absent. Vibrissae are absent and the postvertical bristles are divergent or absent. Up to three pairs of frontal bristles curve forward or backward. Interfrontal bristles are absent. The wings are clear or have a smoky pattern. The costa is without interruptions. The subcosta is complete, its ending in the costa close to vein R1. The posterior basal wing cell and discoidal wing cell are sometimes fused. Crossvein BM-Cu present or (Micropezinae) absent. The abdomen is long and narrow. The tibiae lack a dorsal preapical bristle.

Biology

Some species, much the same as in the strongylophthalmyiid genus, '' Strongylophthalmyia'', mimic ants; others mimic wasps and are especially similar in appearance to some ichneumonid wasps. Species of the genus '' Anaeropsis'' have stalked eyes. Little is known of the larval habits, but they are probably

phytophagous A herbivore is an animal anatomically and physiologically adapted to eating plant material, for example foliage or marine algae, for the main component of its diet. As a result of their plant diet, herbivorous animals typically have mouthpar ...

or saprophagous in decayed vegetation, old manure, or fungi. Larvae of certain ''Mimegralla'' species have been found to live in the roots of ginger and other plants, under the bark of dead trees, or in other decaying material. Species of ''Micropeza'' have phytophagous larvae feeding in the root nodules of leguminous plants in open habitats. Species of ''Rainieria'' develop in rotting wood and are found in old forests. Adults are either predatory on small insects (for example '' Calobata'' in Britain) or are attracted to excrement or decaying fruit. Adults are found on low herbage, flowers, leaves, rotting fruit, and excrement. Many species (for example those of genus '' Mimegralla'') are known for their habit of standing motionless while waving their prominently marked front legs in front of their heads, a behavior which contributes to their mimicry of wasps. At least one species of ''

Metopochetus ''Metopochetus'' is a genus of stilt-legged flies. ''Crus'' is a subgenus. Species within ''Metopochetus'' are: * '' Metopochetus aequalis'' * '' Metopochetus aitkeni'' * '' Metopochetus aper'' * '' Metopochetus bickeli'' * '' Metopochetus clarus ...

'' (''M. curvus'') was observed to wave its hind legs instead, though these are not conspicuously colored.

Identification

* Czerny. 1930. Tylidae. In: Lindner, E. (Ed.). ''Die Fliegen der Paläarktischen Region'' 5, 42a, 13–16. Keys to Palaearctic species but now needs revision (in German). * Séguy, E. (1934) Diptères: Brachycères. II. Muscidae acalypterae, Scatophagidae. Paris: Éditions Faune de France 28
virtuelle numérique
*Shtakel'berg, A.A. Family Micropezidae (Tylidae in part) 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.

Conservation

'' Calycopteryx mosleyi'', found on the Kerguelen Islands and Heard Island, is associated with the Kerguélen cabbage ('' Pringlea antiscorbutica'',

Brassicaceae Brassicaceae () or (the older) Cruciferae () is a medium-sized and economically important family of flowering plants commonly known as the mustards, the crucifers, or the cabbage family. Most are herbaceous plants, while some are shrubs. The leav ...

). As this plant is being destroyed by introduced rabbits, the fly is considered vulnerable. The larvae of ''

'' live in the pitchers of the endangered Albany pitcher plant (''

Cephalotus follicularis ''Cephalotus'' ( or ; Greek: ''κεφαλή'' "head", and ''οὔς''/''ὠτός'' "ear", to describe the head of the anthers) is a genus which contains one species, ''Cephalotus follicularis'' the Albany pitcher plant, a small carnivorous pi ...

'',

Cephalotaceae ''Cephalotus'' ( or ; Greek: ''κεφαλή'' "head", and ''οὔς''/''ὠτός'' "ear", to describe the head of the anthers) is a genus which contains one species, ''Cephalotus follicularis'' the Albany pitcher plant, a small carnivorous pi ...

Fossil record

Several fossil species have been found in Baltic amber, probably from the Late Eocene (about 36 million years old). However, most were washed onto beaches after wearing from Tertiary strata, making their age uncertain. Two fossil genera are presently recognized, '' Cypselosomatites'' Hennig, 1965 and the advanced '' Electrobata'' Hennig, 1965 which may be more than one genus however.

Genera

This list is compiled from th
BioSystematic Database of World Diptera
and probably complete as of January 2007. *'' Anaeropsis''

Bigot Discrimination is the act of making unjustified distinctions between people based on the groups, classes, or other categories to which they belong or are perceived to belong. People may be discriminated on the basis of race, gender, age, rel ...

, 1866 *'' Badisis'' McAlpine, 1990 *'' Calobata'' Meigen, 1803 *'' Calobatella'' Mik, 1898 *'' Calobatina'' Enderlein, 1922 *'' Calosphen'' Hennig, 1934 *'' Calycopteryx'' Eaton, 1875 *'' Cardiacephala'' Macquart, 1843 *'' Cephalosphen'' Hennig, 1934 *'' Chaetotylus'' Hendel, 1932 *'' Cliobata'' Enderlein, 1923 *'' Cnodacophora'' Czerny, 1930 *'' Compsobata'' Czerny, 1930 *'' Cothornobata'' Czerny, 1932 *'' Courtoisia'' Barraclough, 1993 *'' Crepidochetus'' Enderlein, 1922 *'' Crosa'' Steyskal, 1952 *'' Cryogonus'' Cresson, 1926 *'' Ectemnodera'' Enderlein, 1922 *'' Electrobata'' Hennig, 1965 *'' Erythromyiella'' Hennig, 1935 *'' Eurybata'' Osten Sacken, 1882 *'' Globomyia'' Hennig, 1935 *'' Globopeza'' Marshall, 2005 *'' Glyphodera'' Enderlein, 1922 *'' Grallipeza'' Rondani, 1850 *'' Grammicomyia''

, 1859 *'' Hemichaeta'' Hennig, 1934 *'' Hoplocheiloma'' Cresson, 1926 *'' Mesoconius'' Enderlein, 1922 *'' Metasphen'' Frey, 1927 *''

'' Enderlein, 1922 *'' Micropeza'' Meigen, 1803 *'' Mimegralla'' Rondani, 1850 *'' Mimomyrmecia'' Frey, 1927 *'' Neograllomyia'' Hendel, 1933 *'' Neria'' Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830 *'' Nestima'' Osten Sacken, 1881 *'' Notenthes'' Marshall, 2002 *'' Papeza'' McAlpine, 1975 *'' Paramimegralla'' Hennig, 1937 *'' Parasphen'' Enderlein, 1922 *'' Plocoscelus'' Enderlein, 1922 *'' Poecilotylus'' Hennig, 1934 *'' Pseudeurybata'' Hennig, 1934 *'' Ptilosphen'' Enderlein, 1922 *'' Rainieria'' Rondani, 1843 *'' Scipopus'' Enderlein, 1922 *'' Steyskalia'' Aczel, 1959 *'' Stiltissima'' Barraclough, 1991 *'' Taeniaptera'' Macquart, 1835 *'' Tenthes'' Cresson, 1930 *'' Trepidarioides'' Frey, 1927 *'' Zelatractodes'' Enderlein, 1922

References

*Andersson, H., 1989 Taxonomic notes on the Fennoscandian Micropezidae.''Notulae Entomologicae'', 69:153–162. *Brown, B. V., A. Borkent, J.M. Cumming, D.M. Wood, N.E. Woodley, and M. Zumbado. 2010. Manual of Central American Diptera, Volume 2. NRC Research Press. *Hennig, W. 1934. Revision der Tyliden (Dipt., Acalypt.). I. Teil: die Taeniapterinae Amerikas

art Art is a diverse range of human activity, and resulting product, that involves creative or imaginative talent expressive of technical proficiency, beauty, emotional power, or conceptual ideas. There is no generally agreed definition of wha ...

''Stett. Entomol. Ztg''. 95: 65–108, 294–330. ublication split:. 65–108;. 294–330. Concludes in Hennig, 1935b.*Hennig, W. 1935a. Revision der Tyliden (Dipt., Acalypt.). II. Teil: die ausseramerikanischen Taeniapterinae, die Trepidariinae und Tylinae. Allgemeines über die Tyliden. Zugleich ein Beitrag zu den Ergebnissen der Sunda-expedition Rensch, 1927

''Konowia'' 14: 68–92. *Hennig, W. 1935b. Revision der Tyliden (Dipt., Acalypt.). I. Teil: die Taeniapterinae Amerikas oncl. ''Stett. Entomol. Ztg.'' 96: 27–67. *Hennig, W. 1935c. Revision der Tyliden (Dipt., Acalypt.). II. Teil: die ausseramerikanischen Taeniapterinae, die Trepidariinae und Tylinae. Allgemeines über die Tyliden. Zugleich ein Beitrag zu den Ergebnissen der Sunda-expedition Rensch, 1927

''Konowia'' 14: 192–216, 289–310. ublication split:. 192–216; 289–310. Concludes in Hennig, 1936.*Hennig, W. 1936. Revision der Tyliden (Dipt., Acalypt.). II. Teil: die ausseramerikanischen Taeniapterinae, die Trepidariinae und Tylinae. Allgemeines über die Tyliden. Zugleich ein Beitrag zu den Ergebnissen der Sunda-expedition Rensch, 1927 oncl. ''Konowia'' 15: 129–44, 201–39. ublication split:. 129–44;. 201–39. *McAlpine, D.K., 1975. The subfamily classification of the Micropezidae and the genera of Eurybatinae (Diptera: Schizophora). ''Journal of Entomology'' (B) 43: 231–245. *Steyskal, G.C. 1952b. Australasian stilt-legged flies (Diptera: Tylidae) in the United States National Museum. ''Proc. U.S. Natl. Mus.'' 102 Family_Micropezidae_at_EOLEuropean_(including_Russia)_species_listBugGuide
Images_at_BugGuide
Images_at_Diptera.info
{{Taxonbar.html" ;"title=" No. 3294): 161–80. (26 February) *Steyskal, G.C. 1964. Larvae of Micropezidae (Diptera), including two species that bore in ginger roots. ''Ann. Entomol. Soc. Am.'' 57: 292–96. (15 May) *Steyskal, G.C. 1977a. ''Family Micropezidae (Tylidae)'',. 12–20. In: Delfinado, M.D. & D.E. Hardy, eds., A'' catalog of the Diptera of the Oriental Region''. Volume III. Suborder Cyclorrhapha (excluding Division Aschiza). University Press of Hawaii, Honolulu. x + 854 p. *Verbeke, J. 1951. Taenapterinae (Diptera:Cyclorrhapha) Fam. Micropezidae. ''Explor. Parc. natn. Albert Miss. G.F. de Witte'' 72:1–106.

External links

Family Micropezidae at EOLEuropean (including Russia) species listBugGuide
Images at BugGuide
Images at Diptera.info
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