The Psychodinae are the nominate subfamily of moth flies (Psychodidae), also known as drain flies. Like most of their relatives, they are usually found in damp habitats; some occur in caves. The small larvae are aquatic or semi-terrestrial; the adults are winged and capable of flight. Psychodinae are found worldwide, including some subantarctic islands.
Description Adult Psychodinae are small flies that do not exceed 5–6 mm in length. Their body, legs and wings are covered in many setae which (in males) are often pigmented, resulting in colour patterns. Their eyes are usually reniform (kidney shaped) and connected dorsomedially by an eye-bridge. The antennae each consist of a scape, pedicel and 12-14 flagellomeres, and each flagellomere has one or more ascoids of variable shape. The wings are ovate (egg shaped) in shape with 9-10 longitudinal veins and almost no crossveins. Species of Psychodinae often look similar, only being distinguishable by the shape of the male genitalia.
Larval Psychodinae are segmented with each segment subdivided and each subdivision dorsally sclerotised. The tergal sclerites have true and accessorial setae which are useful for determining species. Unlike in other subfamilies of Psychodidae, the abdomen ends in a tubular siphon tipped with spiracles.
Habitat and diet The larval biology of Psychodinae has mainly been studied for Palearctic and Nearctic taxa, with less known about Afrotropical taxa. Most are detritivores in marginal freshwater habitats such as the edges of springs and streams, waterlogged soils and phytotelmata. They also occur in leaf litter, compost, decaying wood, fungal fruiting bodies, dung, carrion, caves, drains and sewage pipes. A few species may cause myiasis.
Pupation occurs on the surface of the organic film inhabited by larvae.
Humans may encounter adult Psychodinae in bathrooms and sewage installations. Adults are drawn to artificial light. They feed on polluted water and the nectar of flowers.
Reproduction Males locate females using species-specific pheromones, and also produce pheromones themselves for courtship. Psychodid antennae have sensilla that may be used for detecting these pheromones. Many Psychodinae also have specialised secondary sexual characteristics for release and detection of chemical cues. They also use visual and tactile displays.
Tribes and genera
Maruinini Enderlein, 1937 Alloeodidicrum Duckhouse, 1990 Didicrum Enderlein, 1937 Eremolobulosa Duckhouse, 1990 Maruina Müller, 1895 Paratelmatoscopus Satchell, 1953 Rotundopteryx Duckhouse, 1990 Setomimini Vaillant, 1982 Arisemus Satchell, 1955 Australopericoma Vaillant, 1975 Balbagathis Quate, 1996 Lobulosa Szabo, 1960 Neoarisemus Botosaneanu & Vaillant, 1970 Parasetomima Duckhouse, 1968 Platyplastinx Enderlein, 1937 Setomima Enderlein, 1937 Tonnoiriella Vaillant, 1982 Mormiini Enderlein, 1937 Atrichobrunettia Satchell, 1953 Brunettia Annandale, 1910 Gerobrunettia Quate & Quate, 1967 Mormia Enderlein, 1935 Paramormiini Enderlein, 1937 Clogmia Enderlein, 1937 Eurygarka Quate, 1959 Feuerborniella Vaillant, 1971 Panimerus Eaton, 1913 Paramormia Enderlein, 1935 Peripsychoda Enderlein, 1935 Philosepedon Eaton, 1904 Telmatoscopus Eaton, 1904 Threticus Eaton, 1904 Trichopsychoda Tonnoir, 1922 Vaillantodes Wagner, 2002 Pericomaini Enderlein, 1935 Bazarella Vaillant, 1961 Berdeniella Vaillant, 1971 Breviscapus Quate, 1955 Clytocerus Eaton, 1904 Lepidiella Enderlein, 1937 Notiocharis Eaton, 1913 Pericoma Haliday, in Walker, 1856 Pneumia Enderlein, 1935 Saraiella Vaillant, 1981 Stupkaiella Vaillant, 1973 Szaboiella Vaillant, 1979 Thornburghiella Vaillant, 1982 Ulomyia Haliday, in Walker, 1856 (= Saccopterix Haliday, in Curtis, 1839, preoccupied) Psychodini Quate, 1959 Epacretron Quate, 1965 Psychoda Latreille, 1796
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