Steganopsis melanogaster

Steganopsis melanogaster is a species of fly in the family Lauxaniidae. It is known from Australia and Norfolk Island.[1][2]

Steganopsis melanogaster
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Class:
Insecta
Order:
Diptera
Family:
Lauxaniidae
Genus:
Steganopsis
Species:
S. melanogaster
Binomial name
Steganopsis melanogaster
(Thomson, 1869)
Synonyms
  • Lauxania melanogaster Thomson, 1869
  • Steganopsis vittithorax Kertész, 1915

Description

As part of family Lauxaniidae, S. melanogaster has a head with convergent postocellar bristles and without vibrissae, the thorax has an anepisternal bristle on each side, and vein C of the wing is unbroken.[3]

For features specific to this species, S. melanogaster is about 3 mm long[4] with an abdomen that is mostly glossy black and wings that are brown except for the transparent white tips. The frons of the head is dull yellow with a large velvety black ocellar mark and brownish marks at the bases of the orbital bristles. The face has a large violet-black spot on each side. The middle of the fore tibia and the base of the hind femur are darkened. The second vein of the wing is close to the costa. The structure of the male hypogium helps distinguish this species from the related and similar-looking S. convergens.[5]

In life, the wings are bent over the end of the abdomen. This may cause the fly to be mistaken for a small beetle.[6]

Ecology

Adults are known to visit flowers of Alphitonia excelsa (Rhamnaceae) and Guioa semiglauca (Sapindaceae).[7]

Larvae may live in rotting plant matter, like most lauxaniid larvae.[3]

Behaviour

Like various other flies, S. melanogaster exhibits bubbling behaviour: regurgitating a droplet of fluid, moving it in and out a few times, then swallowing it again. Evaporation of water from the droplet allows the fly to cool itself down and get rid of excess water.[8]

References
  1. "Steganopsis melanogaster (Thomson, 1869)". www.gbif.org. Retrieved 2022-12-15.
  2. Australian Government Department of Agriculture. Norfolk Island Quarantine Survey 2012–2014 (PDF). OCLC 920939216.
  3. "Diptera | What Bug Is That?". anic.csiro.au. Retrieved 2022-12-15.
  4. "Genus Steganopsis – Field Guide to the Insects of Tasmania". Retrieved 2022-12-15.
  5. Malloch, John Russell (1929). "Notes on some Oriental sapromyzid flies (Diptera), with particular reference to the Philippine species". Proceedings of the United States National Museum. 74 (2751): 1–97. doi:10.5479/si.00963801.74-2751.1. ISSN 0096-3801.
  6. Clark, W. (February 2021). "A Beetle Fly and Peacock Spiders!" (PDF). Field Nats News No. 315. p. 10.
  7. Williams, G. (2020). "Aspects of the reproductive ecology of a south-east Australian Avicennia marina mangrove community — flower visitors and potential pollinators". Cunninghamia. 20: 209–244.
  8. "Flies blowing bubbles". Ray Cannon's nature notes. 2020-09-07. Retrieved 2022-12-15.
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