Apioceridae

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Apioceridae
Apioceridae.jpg

Apioceridae

Systematics
Class : Insects (Insecta)
Order : Fly (Diptera)
Subordination : Flies (Brachycera)
Partial order : Asilomorpha
Superfamily : Predatory fly-like (Asiloidea)
Family : Apioceridae
Scientific name
Apioceridae
Bigot , 1857

The Apioceridae are a family of the two-winged birds ( Diptera) and belong to the flies (Brachycera). Within this group they belong to the predatory fly-like (Asiloidea). This family, which is not native to Europe, is sometimes referred to as flower flies (translation of flower-loving flies ), but this can lead to confusion with the family Anthomyiidae and has little to do with the animals' way of life.

features

The flies reach a body size of 7 to 10 millimeters and have a slim build. They are similar to the predator flies. In addition to the oval compound eyes, they have three point eyes ( ocelli ). Their antennae are four-part.

Way of life

The larvae of the Apioceridae live predatory in the sandy soil. The adults live mostly on open sandy soil in dry, warm areas and ingest water and honeydew , but rarely visit flowers. The colloquial name goes back primarily to the genus Rhaphiomidas , which is no longer included in the family.

Systematics

According to more recent findings, Apiocera is the only genus of the family that is represented with around 140 species mainly in the arid regions of Australia and Northwest America, with a few species also in southern Africa and South America. No species are known from Europe and Asia. In older works, the genera Megascelus , Rhaphiomidas and Neorhaphiomidas are usually counted among the Apioceridae, but these are now placed in the closely related family Mydidae . The systematic position has not yet been finally clarified, mostly Apioceridae and Mydidae are regarded as sister groups, but there may be a sister group relationship with the predatory flies (Asilidae).

literature

  • Yeates, DK and ME Irwin (1996): Apioceridae (Insecta: Diptera): cladistic reappraisal and biogeography. - Zoological Journal of the Linnaean Society 116: 247-301.

Web links

Commons : Apioceridae  - collection of images, videos and audio files