Lonchopteridae
| Spear-winged flies | |
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| Lonchoptera lutea | |
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| Family: | Lonchopteridae Curtis, 1839
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| Diversity[verification needed] | |
| 4 living genera | |
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The Lonchopteridae (spear-winged flies or pointed-wing flies) are a family of small (2–5 mm), slender, yellow to brownish-black Diptera, occurring all over the world. Their common name refers to their pointed wings, which have a distinct venation. Many are parthenogenic; males are very rare, however, at least in North American species, and have a somewhat different venation than do the females.[1][2]
Spear-winged flies are common in moist, shady, grassy areas, where the larvae are found within decaying vegetation. One species, Lonchoptera bifurcata, is cosmopolitan in distribution, and may have been transported via shipments of vegetables.[1][2]
Description
For terms see Morphology of Diptera. The Lonchopteridae are minute, slender flies with long wings which are pointed at the apex.The head is rounded, with the outer vertical bristles, inner vertical bristles, ocellar bristles, interfrontal bristles, and bristles along the margin of the broad mouth very well developed. The mesonotum and scutellum and legs have well developed bristles. The radial vein R has three branches (R1, R2+3, R4+5). The median vein M is furcate (M1, M2). The anal vein A merges with the cubital vein Cu (female) or terminates freely (male).
Systematics
They are usually placed in the superfamily of flat-footed flies and allies (Platypezoidea). If the Platypezoidea are restricted to the flat-footed flies sensu stricto, the spear-winged flies are united with the Ironomyiidae and the coffin and scuttle flies (Phoridae) as Phoroidea. More rarely, they are treated as monotypic superfamily Lonchopteroidea.
Four[verification needed] living genera are in this family, encompassing some 50 described species altogether:[3]
- Homolonchoptera Yang, 1999
- Lonchoptera Meigen, 1803
- Neolonchoptera Vaillant, 1989
- Spilolonchoptera Yang, 1998
Two fossil genera of spear-winged flies have been described:[3]
- Lonchopterites Grimaldi & Cumming, 1999
- Lonchopteromorpha Grimaldi & Cumming, 1999
Species
References
- ^ a b Smith, K.G.V. (1969): Handbook for the Identification of British Insects 10(2ai: Diptera Lonchopteridae): 1–9.
- ^ a b Borror, D.J.; Triplehorn, C.A. & Johnson, N.A. (1989): An Introduction to the Study of Insects (6th edition). Saunders College Publishing.
- ^ a b Tree of Life Web Project (ToL) (2007): Lonchopteridae. Version of 2007-NOV-29. Retrieved 2009-APR-07.
External links
- Lonchopteridae In Italian
- Lonchopteridae page at the Bishop Museum, Honolulu
- Family Lonchopteridae at EOL Image Gallery
- Photograph of Lonchoptera furcata Fallén Should be L. bifurcata.
- Photograph of Lonchoptera lutea Panzer
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