The Anthomyiidae are a large and diverse family of Muscoidea flies. Most look rather like small houseflies. Most species are drab grey to black. Many Pegomya are yellow, and some members of the genera Anthomyia and Eutrichota are patterned in black-and-white or black-and-silvery-grey. Most are difficult to identify, apart from a few groups such as the kelp flies that are conspicuous on beaches.

The name Anthomyiidae was derived from Greek anthos (flower) plus myia (a fly).

Some species are commonly called "root-maggots", as the larvae are found in the stems and roots of various plants. As larvae, some also feed on decaying plant material. The well-known grey "seaweed flies" or "kelp flies" (Fucellia) are examples. Others are scavengers in such places as birds' nests; yet other species are leaf miners; the family also includes inquilines, commensals, and parasitic larvae.

Some species in the family are significant agricultural pests, particularly some from the genus Delia, which includes the onion fly (D. antiqua), the wheat bulb fly (D. coarctata), the turnip root fly (D. floralis), the seedcorn maggot (D. platura), and the cabbage root fly (D. radicum).

In some contexts, like mountain environments, the adults can be common flower visitors, also being involved in pollination.

Description

These flies are small or moderate in size. Hypopleural bristles found on the sides of the thorax are apical. The anal vein of the wing reaches the margin of the wings (except in Chelisia). The median vein is straight, not curved towards the anterior alar margin. Three pairs of postsutural dorsocentral bristles almost always are present. The first segment of the posterior tarsi are on the lower side near the base with minute bristles. The sternopleuron lower side often has short, soft hairs. Eyes in the male in most cases are close-set or contiguous. Females of many species are not known as of yet.

Classification Family Anthomyiidae -- anthomyiid flies Subfamily Anthomyiinae Tribe Anthomyiini

Genus Anthomyia Meigen, 1803 Genus Botanophila Lioy, 1864 Genus Chiastocheta Pokorny, 1889 Genus Fucellia Robineau-Desvoidy, 1842 Genus Hylemya Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830 Genus Hylemyza Schnabl & Dziedzicki, 1911 Tribe Chirosiini Genus Chirosia Rondani, 1856 Genus Egle Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830 Genus Lasiomma Stein, 1916 Genus Strobilomyia Michelsen, 1988 Tribe Hydrophoriini Genus Acridomyia Stackelberg, 1929 Genus Adia Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830 Genus Boreophorbia Michelsen, 1987 Genus Coenosopsia Malloch, 1924 Genus Delia Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830 Genus Eustalomyia Kowarz, 1873 Genus Heterostylodes Hennig, 1967 Genus Hydrophoria Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830 Genus Leucophora Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830 Genus Paregle Schnabl, 1911 Genus Phorbia Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830 Genus Subhylemyia Ringdahl, 1933 Genus Zaphne Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830 Subfamily Pegomyinae Tribe Pegomyini Genus Alliopsis Schnabl & Dziedzicki, 1911 Genus Emmesomyia Malloch, 1917 Genus Eutrichota Kowarz, 1893 Genus Mycophaga Rondani, 1856 Genus Paradelia Ringdahl, 1933 Genus Parapegomyia Griffiths, 1984 Genus Pegomya Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830 Tribe Myopinini Genus Pegoplata Schnabl & Dziedzicki, 1911 Genus Calythea Schnabl in Schnabl & Dziedzicki, 1911 Genus Myopina Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830

See also Pest Information Wiki

References

Further reading Genera - Suwa, M., & B. Darvas, 1998. Family Anthomyiidae. In: Contributions to a manual of Palaearctic Diptera Volume 3 (L. Papp & B. Darvas, eds.): 571–616. Science Herald, Budapest. Species - Hennig, W., 1966–1976. 63a. Anthomyiidae. In: Die Fliegen der paläarktischen Region 7(1) (Erwin Lindner, ed.): 1–974, pl. 1-78. E. Schweizerbart, Stuttgart.

Identification Ackland, D. M. 2001. Revision of afrotropical Anthomyia Meigen, 1803 (Diptera: Anthomyiidae), with descriptions of ten new species. African Invertebrates 42: 1-94. Ackland, D. M. 2008. Revision of Afrotropical Delia Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830 (Diptera: Anthomyiidae), with descriptions of six new species. African Invertebrates 49 (1): 1-75. K. Yu. Elberg Family Anthomyiidae in Bei-Bienko, G. Ya, 1988 Keys to the insects of the European Part of the USSR Volume 5 (Diptera) Part 2 English edition Emden, F. I. Van (1941): Keys to the Muscidae of the Ethiopian Region :Scatophaginae, Anthomyiinae, Lispinae, Fanniinae. Bull. Ent.Res., 1941–1942, 32: 251–275. Keys to Afrotropical genera and species. See Pont & Ackland in Crosskey, R. W. et al. 1980 for updated classification and nomenclature. Hennig, W., 1966–1976. 63a. Anthomyiidae. In: Die Fliegen der paläarktischen Region 7(1) (Erwin Lindner, ed.): 1–974, pl. 1-78. E. Schweizerbart, Stuttgart. Monograph of Palaearctic species. Huckett, H. C. (1965): The Muscidae of Northern Canada, Alaska and Greenland (Diptera). Mem. Ent. Soc. Canada, 42: 1–369. Keys, illustrations. Huckett H. C. (1971): The Anthomyiidae of California exclusive of. the subfamily Scatophaginae (Diptera). Bull. Calif. Insect Survey. 12: 1–121. Illustrated Keys. South Nearctic and North Neotropical. Pont, A.C., 1972, Family Muscidae. In: A Catalogue of the Diptera of the Americas South of the United States, 97, 111 p. Museu de Zoologia, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo. Suwa, M. (1974): Anthomyiidae of Japan (Diptera). Insecta Matsumurana New Series 4 : 1–247. Comprehensive revision. Excellent illustrations. Suwa, M., & B. Darvas (1998): Family Anthomyiidae. In: Contributions to a manual of Palaearctic Diptera Volume 3 (L. Papp & B. Darvas, eds.): 571–616. Science Herald, Budapest.

Species lists Palaearctic Nearctic Australasian/Oceanian Japan

External links

Family description and image Family ANTHOMYIIDAE at the Hawaii Biological Survey Leafmines of Anthomyiidae Anthomyiid Pack Diptera.info Gallery Anthomyiidae at Bug Guide Family Anthomyiidae at EOL images Morphology of important Central Europe species pdf