Micropezidae
Encyclopedia
The Micropezidae are a moderate-sized family of acalyptrate muscoid flies in the insect order Diptera
, comprising about 500 species in about 50 genera and 5 subfamilies worldwide, (except New Zealand
and Macquarie Island
). They are most diverse in tropical and subtropical habitats, especially in the Neotropical Region.
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
.
Some species, much the same as in the strongylophthalmyiid genus, Strongylophthalmyia, mimic ants
; others mimic wasp
s 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
or saprophagous
. 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. Adults are either predaceous
on small insects (for example Calobata in Britain) or are attracted to excrement or decaying fruit.
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 head, a behavior which contributes to their mimicry of wasps. At least one species of Metopochetus (M. curvus) was observed to wave its hindlegs instead, though these are not conspicuously colored.
). As this plant is being destroyed by introduced rabbits
, the fly is considered vulnerable.
The larvae of Badisis ambulans
live in the pitchers of the endangered Albany pitcher plant (Cephalotus follicularis, Cephalotaceae).
, 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.
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...
, comprising about 500 species in about 50 genera and 5 subfamilies worldwide, (except New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
and Macquarie Island
Macquarie Island
Macquarie Island lies in the southwest corner of the Pacific Ocean, about half-way between New Zealand and Antarctica, at 54°30S, 158°57E. Politically, it has formed part of the Australian state of Tasmania since 1900 and became a Tasmanian State Reserve in 1978. In 1997 it became a world heritage...
). They are most diverse in tropical and subtropical habitats, especially in the Neotropical Region.
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 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...
.
Some species, much the same as in the strongylophthalmyiid genus, Strongylophthalmyia, mimic ants
Ant mimicry
Ant mimicry is mimicry of ants by other organisms. Ants are abundant all over the world, and insect predators that rely on vision to identify their prey such as birds and wasps normally avoid them, either because they are unpalatable, or aggressive. Thus some other arthropods mimic ants to escape...
; others mimic wasp
Wasp
The term wasp is typically defined as any insect of the order Hymenoptera and suborder Apocrita that is neither a bee nor an ant. Almost every pest insect species has at least one wasp species that preys upon it or parasitizes it, making wasps critically important in natural control of their...
s and are especially similar in appearance to some ichneumonid wasps
Ichneumonidae
Ichneumonidae is a family within the insect order Hymenoptera. Insects in this family are commonly called ichneumon wasps. Less exact terms are ichneumon flies , or scorpion wasps due to the extreme lengthening and curving of the abdomen...
. Species of the genus Anaeropsis
Anaeropsis
Anaeropsis is a genus of stilt-legged fly. It is found in New Guinea....
have stalked eyes.
Little is known of the larval habits, but they are probably phytophagous
Herbivore
Herbivores are organisms that are anatomically and physiologically adapted to eat plant-based foods. Herbivory is a form of consumption in which an organism principally eats autotrophs such as plants, algae and photosynthesizing bacteria. More generally, organisms that feed on autotrophs in...
or saprophagous
Detritivore
Detritivores, also known as detritophages or detritus feeders or detritus eaters or saprophages, are heterotrophs that obtain nutrients by consuming detritus . By doing so, they contribute to decomposition and the nutrient cycles...
. Larvae of certain Mimegralla species have been found to live in the roots of ginger
Ginger
Ginger is the rhizome of the plant Zingiber officinale, consumed as a delicacy, medicine, or spice. It lends its name to its genus and family . Other notable members of this plant family are turmeric, cardamom, and galangal....
and other plants, under the bark of dead trees or in other decaying material. Adults are either predaceous
Predation
In ecology, predation describes a biological interaction where a predator feeds on its prey . Predators may or may not kill their prey prior to feeding on them, but the act of predation always results in the death of its prey and the eventual absorption of the prey's tissue through consumption...
on small insects (for example Calobata in Britain) or are attracted to excrement or decaying fruit.
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 head, a behavior which contributes to their mimicry of wasps. At least one species of Metopochetus (M. curvus) was observed to wave its hindlegs instead, though these are not conspicuously colored.
Conservation
Calycopteryx mosleyi, found on Kerguélen and Heard Island, is associated with the Kerguélen cabbage (Pringlea antiscorbutica, BrassicaceaeBrassicaceae
Brassicaceae, a medium sized and economically important family of flowering plants , are informally known as the mustards, mustard flowers, the crucifers or the cabbage family....
). As this plant is being destroyed by introduced rabbits
Rabbits in Australia
In Australia, rabbits are a serious mammalian pest and are an invasive species. Annually, European rabbits cause millions of dollars of damage to crops.-Effects on Australia's ecology:...
, the fly is considered vulnerable.
The larvae of Badisis ambulans
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...
live in the pitchers of the endangered Albany pitcher plant (Cephalotus follicularis, Cephalotaceae).
Fossil record
Several fossil species have been found in Baltic amberBaltic amber
The Baltic region is home to the largest known deposit of amber, called Baltic amber or succinite, with about 80% of the world's known amber found there. It dates from 44 million years ago...
, probably from the Late Eocene (about 36 million years old). However, most were washed onto beaches after wearing from Tertiary
Tertiary
The Tertiary is a deprecated term for a geologic period 65 million to 2.6 million years ago. The Tertiary covered the time span between the superseded Secondary period and the Quaternary...
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 the The BioSystematic Database of World Diptera and probably complete as of January 2007.- AnaeropsisAnaeropsisAnaeropsis is a genus of stilt-legged fly. It is found in New Guinea....
Bigot, 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 Bigot, 1859
- Hemichaeta Hennig, 1934
- Hoplocheiloma Cresson, 1926
- Mesoconius Enderlein, 1922
- Metasphen Frey, 1927
- Metopochetus 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
Further reading
- Andersson, H., 1989 Taxonomic notes on the Fennoscandian Micropezidae.Notulae Entomologicae, 69:153–162.
- Hennig, W. 1934. Revision der Tyliden (Dipt., Acalypt.). I. Teil: die Taeniapterinae Amerikas [part]. Stett. Entomol. Ztg. 95: 65–108, 294–330. [Publication 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 [part]. Konowia 14: 68–92.
- Hennig, W. 1935b. Revision der Tyliden (Dipt., Acalypt.). I. Teil: die Taeniapterinae Amerikas [concl.]. 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 [part]. Konowia 14: 192–216, 289–310. [Publication 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 [concl.]. Konowia 15: 129–44, 201–39. [Publication 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 [= 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.