Lauxanioidea

The Lauxanioidea are a superfamily of flies that includes the two large families, the Lauxaniidae and Chamaemyiidae, and the small family Celyphidae. Generally, they are small to medium, densely populated, coloured flies. The Chamaemyiidae live as parasites on insects. The family Celyphidae look like beetles.

Lauxanioidea
Homoneura hirayamae
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Diptera
Section: Schizophora
Subsection: Acalyptratae
Superfamily: Lauxanioidea
Hendel, 1922[1]
Families

Some authors also recognize the family Cremifaniidae, but most place this in the Chamaemyiidae.

Description

The superfamily has three synapomorphies (features present in all members due to a common ancestor): convergent postocellar bristles, an abbreviated anal vein in the wing, and fusion of male abdominal tergites 7 and 8.[2]

Within the superfamily, Celyphidae can be distinguished from other families by their scutellum, which is shiny, enlarged and covers most of the abdomen, similar to a beetle's elytra.[3] Lauxaniidae are yellowish-brown or black, usually have iridescent reddish/purplish or greenish eyes, and the wings are sometimes patterned.[4] Chamaemyiidae are usually silvery gray with black spots, sometimes shiny and black.[5]

Ecology

Larvae of most Lauxaniidae and Celyphidae feed on decaying vegetation.[3][4] Some species of Lauxaniidae only occur in bird nests.[3] Adult lauxaniids may visit flowers.[4] Larvae of all known Chamaemyiidae have a rather different lifestyle, being predators of aphids and scale insects.[3][5]

Phylogeny

A 2017 phylogenetic analysis using mitochondrial genomes confirmed the monophyly of Lauxaniidae and of Celyphidae, and that these two families are sister groups.[3]

References
  1. Kim, S.P. (1994). Australian Lauxaniid Flies. Revision of the Australian Species of Homoneura van der Wulp, Trypetisoma Malloch, and Allied Genera (Diptera : Lauxaniidae). Collingwood, Victoria: CSIRO Entomology. p. 445.
  2. Yeates, David K.; Wiegmann, Brian M.; Courtney, Greg W.; Meier, Rudolf; Lambkin, Christine; Pape, Thomas (2007-12-21). "Phylogeny and systematics of Diptera: Two decades of progress and prospects*". Zootaxa. 1668 (1): 565–590. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.1668.1.27. ISSN 1175-5334.
  3. Li, Xuankun; Li, Wenliang; Ding, Shuangmei; Cameron, Stephen; Mao, Meng; Shi, Li; Yang, Ding (2017-04-14). "Mitochondrial Genomes Provide Insights into the Phylogeny of Lauxanioidea (Diptera: Cyclorrhapha)". International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 18 (4): 773. doi:10.3390/ijms18040773. ISSN 1422-0067. PMC 5412357. PMID 28420076.
  4. "Family Lauxaniidae". bugguide.net. Retrieved 2022-10-28.
  5. "Family Chamaemyiidae". bugguide.net. Retrieved 2022-10-28.
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