Platypezoidea
Encyclopedia
The 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 pupa
l case with a ptilinum
when hatching, and thus the Aschiza do not have the inverted-U-shaped suture above the antennae
. They are, however, muscomorphs
, and thus have a particular type of pupal case resembling a rounded barrel and called "puparium".
Ironomyiidae, Lonchopteridae and Phoridae are sometimes separated as Phoroidea. The reduced Platypezoidea thus created unites the two families of flat-footed flies.
Taxonomic rank
In biological classification, rank is the level in a taxonomic hierarchy. Examples of taxonomic ranks are species, genus, family, and class. Each rank subsumes under it a number of less general categories...
of true flies of the section Aschiza
Aschiza
Aschiza 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...
. Their closest living relatives are the Syrphoidea
Syrphoidea
Syrphoidea 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....
, which for example contain the hoverflies. Like these, the adults do not bust open their 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...
l case with a ptilinum
Ptilinum
The ptilinum is an eversible pouch on the head, above the base of the antenna in schizophoran flies . It is used to force off the end of the puparium in order for the fly to emerge, and after this inflation at emergence, the ptilinum collapses back inside the head, marked thereafter only by the...
when hatching, and thus the Aschiza do not have the inverted-U-shaped suture above 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....
. They are, however, muscomorphs
Muscomorpha
The Brachyceran 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...
, and thus have a particular type of pupal case resembling a rounded barrel and called "puparium".
Families
5 families are placed in the Platypezoidea, listed below in taxonomic sequence:- Phoridae - coffin and scuttle flies (includes Sciadoceridae)
- OpetiidaeOpetiidaeOpetiidae or flat-footed flies are members of a family of flies of the Order Diptera.-References:* Chandler, P.J., 2000 Flat-Footed Flies: of Europe Brill Academic Pub ISSN 9004120238...
- flat-footed flies - IronomyiidaeIronomyiidaeIronomyiidae or ironic flies , are a small family of insects of the order Diptera. Historically they have been included in the family Platypezidae. It includes only 3 living species, and a number extinct fossil species.-Living Species:...
- Ironic flies - LonchopteridaeLonchopteridaeLonchopteridae are a family of small , slender, yellow to brownish-black Diptera, occurring all over the world. Their common name refers to their pointed wings, which have a distinct venation...
- spear-winged flies, pointed-wing flies - PlatypezidaePlatypezidaePlatypezidae is a family of true flies of the superfamily Platypezoidea. The more than 250 species are found worldwide primarily in woodland habitats...
- flat-footed flies
Ironomyiidae, Lonchopteridae and Phoridae are sometimes separated as Phoroidea. The reduced Platypezoidea thus created unites the two families of flat-footed flies.