The Psychodinae are the nominate subfamily of moth flies (

Psychodidae Psychodidae, called drain flies, sink flies, filter flies, sewer flies, or sewer gnats, is a family of Fly, true flies. Some genera have short, hairy bodies and wings giving them a "furry" moth-like appearance, hence one of their common names, m ...

), also known as drain flies. Like most of their relatives, they are usually found in damp

habitat In ecology, the term habitat summarises the array of resources, physical and biotic factors that are present in an area, such as to support the survival and reproduction of a particular species. A species habitat can be seen as the physical ...

s; some occur in

cave A cave or cavern is a natural void in the ground, specifically a space large enough for a human to enter. Caves often form by the weathering of rock and often extend deep underground. The word ''cave'' can refer to smaller openings such as sea ...

s. The small

larva A larva (; plural larvae ) 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 are aquatic or semi-terrestrial; the adults are winged and capable of flight. Psychodinae are found worldwide, including some subantarctic islands.

Description

Adult Psychodinae are small flies that do not exceed 5-6 mm in length. Their body, legs and wings are covered in many

setae In biology, setae (singular seta ; from the Latin word for " bristle") are any of a number of different bristle- or hair-like structures on living organisms. Animal setae Protostomes Annelid setae are stiff bristles present on the body. ...

which (in males) are often pigmented, resulting in colour patterns. Their eyes are usually reniform and connected dorsomedially by an eye-bridge. The antennae each consist of a scape, pedicel and 12-14 flagellomeres, and each flagellomere has one or more ascoids of variable shape. The wings are ovate in shape with 9-10 longitudinal veins and almost no crossveins. Species of Psychodinae often look similar, only being distinguishable by the shape of the male genitalia. Larval Psychodinae are segmented with each segment subdivided and each subdivision dorsally sclerotised. The tergal sclerites have true and accessorial

which are useful for determining species. Unlike in other subfamilies of Psychodidae, the abdomen ends in a tubular siphon tipped with spiracles.

Habitat and diet

The larval biology of Psychodinae has mainly been studied for Palearctic and

Nearctic The Nearctic realm is one of the eight biogeographic realms constituting the Earth's land surface. The Nearctic realm covers most of North America, including Greenland, Central Florida, and the highlands of Mexico. The parts of North America ...

taxa, with less known about Afrotropical taxa. Most are

detritivores Detritivores (also known as detrivores, detritophages, detritus feeders, or detritus eaters) are heterotrophs that obtain nutrients by consuming detritus (decomposing plant and animal parts as well as feces). There are many kinds of invertebrates, ...

in marginal freshwater habitats such as the edges of springs and streams, waterlogged soils and

phytotelmata Phytotelma (plural phytotelmata) is a small water-filled cavity in a terrestrial plant. The water accumulated within these plants may serve as the habitat for associated fauna and flora. A rich literature in German summarised by Thienemann (19 ...

. They also occur in leaf litter, compost, decaying wood, fungal fruiting bodies, dung, carrion, caves, drains and sewage pipes. A few species may cause

myiasis Myiasis is the parasitic infestation of the body of a live animal by fly larvae (maggots) which grow inside the host while feeding on its tissue. Although flies are most commonly attracted to open wounds and urine- or feces-soaked fur, some spe ...

. Pupation occurs on the surface of the organic film inhabited by larvae. Humans may encounter adult Psychodinae in bathrooms and sewage installations. Adults are drawn to artificial light. They feed on polluted water and the nectar of flowers.

Reproduction

Males locate females using species-specific

pheromones A pheromone () is a secreted or excreted chemical factor that triggers a social response in members of the same species. Pheromones are chemicals capable of acting like hormones outside the body of the secreting individual, to affect the behavio ...

, and also produce pheromones themselves for courtship. Psychodid antennae have sensilla that may be used for detecting these pheromones. Many Psychodinae also have specialised secondary sexual characteristics for release and detection of chemical cues. They also use visual and tactile displays.

Tribes and genera

;Maruinini Enderlein, 1937 *'' Alloeodidicrum'' Duckhouse, 1990 *'' Didicrum'' Enderlein, 1937 *'' Eremolobulosa'' Duckhouse, 1990 *'' Maruina'' Müller, 1895 *'' Paratelmatoscopus'' Satchell, 1953 *'' Rotundopteryx'' Duckhouse, 1990 ;Setomimini Vaillant, 1982 *'' Arisemus'' Satchell, 1955 *'' Australopericoma'' Vaillant, 1975 *'' Balbagathis'' Quate, 1996 *'' Lobulosa'' Szabo, 1960 *'' Neoarisemus'' Botosaneanu & Vaillant, 1970 *'' Parasetomima'' Duckhouse, 1968 *'' Platyplastinx'' Enderlein, 1937 *'' Setomima'' Enderlein, 1937 *'' Tonnoiriella'' Vaillant, 1982 ;Mormiini Enderlein, 1937 *'' Atrichobrunettia'' Satchell, 1953 *'' Brunettia'' Annandale, 1910 *'' Gerobrunettia'' Quate & Quate, 1967 *'' Mormia'' Enderlein, 1935 ;Paramormiini Enderlein, 1937 *'' Clogmia'' Enderlein, 1937 *'' Eurygarka'' Quate, 1959 *'' Feuerborniella'' Vaillant, 1971 *'' Panimerus'' Eaton, 1913 *'' Paramormia'' Enderlein, 1935 *'' Peripsychoda'' Enderlein, 1935 *'' Philosepedon'' Eaton, 1904 *'' Telmatoscopus'' Eaton, 1904 *'' Threticus'' Eaton, 1904 *'' Trichopsychoda'' Tonnoir, 1922 *'' Vaillantodes'' Wagner, 2002 ;Pericomaini Enderlein, 1935 *'' Bazarella'' Vaillant, 1961 *'' Berdeniella'' Vaillant, 1971 *'' Breviscapus'' Quate, 1955 *'' Clytocerus'' Eaton, 1904 *'' Lepidiella'' Enderlein, 1937 *'' Notiocharis'' Eaton, 1913 *'' Pericoma'' Haliday, in

Walker Walker or The Walker may refer to: People * Walker (given name) *Walker (surname) * Walker (Brazilian footballer) (born 1982), Brazilian footballer Places In the United States *Walker, Arizona, in Yavapai County *Walker, Mono County, California ...

, 1856 *'' Pneumia'' Enderlein, 1935 *'' Saraiella'' Vaillant, 1981 *'' Stupkaiella'' Vaillant, 1973 *'' Szaboiella'' Vaillant, 1979 *'' Thornburghiella'' Vaillant, 1982 *'' Ulomyia'' Haliday, in

, 1856 (= '' Saccopterix'' Haliday, in

Curtis Curtis or Curtiss is a common English given name and surname of Anglo-Norman origin from the Old French ''curteis'' ( Modern French ''courtois'') which derived from the Spanish Cortés (of which Cortez is a variation) and the Portuguese and Ga ...

, 1839, preoccupied) ;Psychodini Quate, 1959 *'' Epacretron'' Quate, 1965 *'' Psychoda'' Latreille, 1796

References

External links

* * {{Taxonbar, from=Q728148 Psychodidae Nematocera subfamilies Articles containing video clips Taxa named by Edward Newman