Muscomorpha
Encyclopedia
The Brachycera
n infraorder Muscomorpha is a large and diverse group of flies, containing the bulk of the Brachycera, and, in fact, most of the known flies
. It includes a number of the most familiar flies, such as the housefly
, the fruit fly
and the blowfly. The antennae
are short, usually 3-segmented, with a dorsal arista
. Their bodies are often highly setose, and the pattern of seta
e is often taxonomically important.
The larva
e of muscomorphs (in the sense the name is used here; see below) have a reduced head capsule, and the pupa
is formed inside the exoskeleton
of the last larva
l instar
; exit from this puparium is via a circular line of weakness, and this pupal type is called "cyclorrhaphous" - it is this feature which gives this group of flies their traditional name, Cyclorrhapha
. No other insects have a life cycle that involves a puparium.
is used, in various modern classifications, to represent either a subgroup within the infraorder Muscomorpha, or simply a rankless group within the Brachycera. In either case, Empidoidea
is the sister taxon to Cyclorrhapha. In the present classification, as the Muscomorpha is used to refer to the sister taxon of the Empidoidea, the names "Muscomorpha" and "Cyclorrhapha" are effectively synonymous (though not entirely interchangeable: for nomenclatural purposes, it is always considered better if the endings of names of similar rank are consistent, and since all the other infraordinal names end in "-morpha", the use of "Cyclorrhapha" as an infraordinal name would be inconsistent).
In the Tree of Life Web Project
, the name "Muscomorpha" refers to the Asilomorpha
plus the Cyclorrhapha.
Brachycera
Brachycera is a suborder of Diptera. It is a major suborder consisting of around 120 families. The most distinguishing characteristic of the suborder is reduced antenna segmentation...
n infraorder Muscomorpha is a large and diverse group of flies, containing the bulk of the Brachycera, and, in fact, most of the known flies
Fly
True flies are insects of the order Diptera . They possess a pair of wings on the mesothorax and a pair of halteres, derived from the hind wings, on the metathorax...
. It includes a number of the most familiar flies, such as the housefly
Housefly
The housefly , Musca domestica, is a fly of the suborder Cyclorrhapha...
, the fruit fly
Drosophila
Drosophila is a genus of small flies, belonging to the family Drosophilidae, whose members are often called "fruit flies" or more appropriately pomace flies, vinegar flies, or wine flies, a reference to the characteristic of many species to linger around overripe or rotting fruit...
and the blowfly. The antennae
Antenna (biology)
Antennae in biology have historically been paired appendages used for sensing in arthropods. More recently, the term has also been applied to cilium structures present in most cell types of eukaryotes....
are short, usually 3-segmented, with a dorsal arista
Antenna (biology)
Antennae in biology have historically been paired appendages used for sensing in arthropods. More recently, the term has also been applied to cilium structures present in most cell types of eukaryotes....
. Their bodies are often highly setose, and the pattern of seta
Seta
Seta is a biological term derived from the Latin word for "bristle". It refers to a number of different bristle- or hair-like structures on living organisms.-Animal setae:In zoology, most "setae" occur in invertebrates....
e is often taxonomically important.
The larva
Larva
A larva 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 of muscomorphs (in the sense the name is used here; see below) have a reduced head capsule, and the pupa
Pupa
A pupa is the life stage of some insects undergoing transformation. The pupal stage is found only in holometabolous insects, those that undergo a complete metamorphosis, going through four life stages; embryo, larva, pupa and imago...
is formed inside the exoskeleton
Exoskeleton
An exoskeleton is the external skeleton that supports and protects an animal's body, in contrast to the internal skeleton of, for example, a human. In popular usage, some of the larger kinds of exoskeletons are known as "shells". Examples of exoskeleton animals include insects such as grasshoppers...
of the last larva
Larva
A larva 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...
l instar
Instar
An instar is a developmental stage of arthropods, such as insects, between each molt , until sexual maturity is reached. Arthropods must shed the exoskeleton in order to grow or assume a new form. Differences between instars can often be seen in altered body proportions, colors, patterns, or...
; exit from this puparium is via a circular line of weakness, and this pupal type is called "cyclorrhaphous" - it is this feature which gives this group of flies their traditional name, Cyclorrhapha
Cyclorrhapha
Cyclorrhapha is an unranked taxon within the infraorder Muscomorpha. They are called "Cyclorrhapha" with reference to the circular aperture through which the adult escapes the puparium...
. No other insects have a life cycle that involves a puparium.
Classification
The name CyclorrhaphaCyclorrhapha
Cyclorrhapha is an unranked taxon within the infraorder Muscomorpha. They are called "Cyclorrhapha" with reference to the circular aperture through which the adult escapes the puparium...
is used, in various modern classifications, to represent either a subgroup within the infraorder Muscomorpha, or simply a rankless group within the Brachycera. In either case, Empidoidea
Empidoidea
The Empidoidea are a large monophyletic superfamily of true flies, the sister taxon to the Muscomorpha . These two groups are sometimes united in the unranked taxon Eremoneura...
is the sister taxon to Cyclorrhapha. In the present classification, as the Muscomorpha is used to refer to the sister taxon of the Empidoidea, the names "Muscomorpha" and "Cyclorrhapha" are effectively synonymous (though not entirely interchangeable: for nomenclatural purposes, it is always considered better if the endings of names of similar rank are consistent, and since all the other infraordinal names end in "-morpha", the use of "Cyclorrhapha" as an infraordinal name would be inconsistent).
In the Tree of Life Web Project
Tree of Life Web Project
The Tree of Life Web Project is an ongoing Internet project providing information about the diversity and phylogeny of life on Earth. This collaborative peer reviewed project began in 1995, and is written by biologists from around the world....
, the name "Muscomorpha" refers to the Asilomorpha
Asilomorpha
The Brachyceran infraorder Asilomorpha is a large and diverse group of flies, containing the bulk of the non-muscoid Brachycera.The larvae of asilomorphs are extremely diverse in habits, as well.-Classification:...
plus the Cyclorrhapha.
- Section AschizaAschizaAschiza is a section of Brachycera. There are two large families in this group, Syrphidae and Phoridae, and a number of smaller taxa. They are similar to most of the familiar Muscomorpha with one notable exception; they do not possess a ptilinum, and therefore lack the prominent ptilinal suture on...
- Superfamily PlatypezoideaPlatypezoideaThe Platypezoidea are a superfamily of true flies of the section Aschiza. Their closest living relatives are the Syrphoidea, which for example contain the hoverflies. Like these, the adults do not bust open their pupal case with a ptilinum when hatching, and thus the Aschiza do not have the...
- Superfamily SyrphoideaSyrphoideaSyrphoidea is a superfamily of flies containing only two families under present classification, one of which has a great number of the most common and familiar flies....
- Superfamily Platypezoidea
- Section SchizophoraSchizophoraSchizophora is a section of true flies containing 78 families, which are collectively referred to as muscoids, even though - technically - the term "muscoid" should be limited to flies in the superfamily Muscoidea; this is an example of informal, historical usage persisting in the vernacular...
- Sub-section AcalyptrataeAcalyptrataeAcalyptratae is a subsection of Schizophora, commonly referred to as the acalyptrate muscoids . It is a very large assemblage, exhibiting very diverse habits, with one notable and perhaps surprising exception; there are no known acalyptrates that are obligate blood-feeders , though this is a life...
- Superfamily Conopoidea
- Superfamily TephritoideaTephritoideaThe Tephritoidea are a superfamily of flies. The following families are included:* Lonchaeidae - lance flies* Pallopteridae - flutter flies* Piophilidae - skippers* Platystomatidae - signal flies* Pyrgotidae* Richardiidae* Tephritidae - fruit flies...
- Superfamily NerioideaNerioideaNerioidea is a superfamily of Acalyptratae flies....
- Superfamily DiopsoideaDiopsoideaThe Diopsoidea is a small but diverse cosmopolitan superfamily of acalyptrate muscoids, especially prevalent in the tropics. There is some flux in the family constituency of this group , and the final classification is likely to require the use of molecular systematics....
- Superfamily SciomyzoideaSciomyzoideaSciomyzoidea is a superfamily of Acalyptratae flies.The families placed here are:* Coelopidae – seaweed flies* Dryomyzidae* Helosciomyzidae * Ropalomeridae* Heterocheilidae* Sepsidae – scavenger flies...
- Superfamily SphaeroceroideaSphaeroceroideaSphaeroceroidea is a superfamily of flies. It includes the cosmopolitan families of Sphaeroceridae , Heleomyzidae, and Chyromyidae, as well as a few smaller groups....
- Superfamily LauxanioideaLauxanioideaLauxanioidea is a superfamily of flies that includes the two large families, the Lauxaniidae and Chamaemyiidae, and the small families Eurychoromyiidae and Celyphidae. Generally they are small to medium, densely populated, coloured flies. Chamaemyiidae and Cremifaniidae live as parasites on insects...
- Superfamily OpomyzoideaOpomyzoideaOpomyzoidea is a superfamily of flies.-External links:*...
- Superfamily EphydroideaEphydroideaEphydroidea is a superfamily of flies....
- Superfamily CarnoideaCarnoideaCarnoidea are a superfamily of Acalyptratae flies.-External links:*, Dedicated website...
- Sub-section CalyptrataeCalyptrataeCalyptratae is a subsection of Schizophora in the insect order Diptera, commonly referred to as the calyptrate muscoids...
- Superfamily MuscoideaMuscoideaMuscoidea is a superfamily of flies in the subsection Calyptratae....
- Superfamily OestroideaOestroideaOestroidea is a superfamily of Calyptratae....
- Superfamily HippoboscoideaHippoboscoideaHippoboscoidea is a superfamily of Calyptratae. The flies in this superfamily are blood-feeding obligate parasites of their hosts. Five families are often placed here:* Glossinidae* Hippoboscidae...
- Superfamily Muscoidea
- Sub-section Acalyptratae