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.Smith, K.G.V. (1969): Handbook for the Identification of British Insects 10(2ai: Diptera Lonchopteridae): 1–9.Borror, D.J.; Triplehorn, C.A. & Johnson, N.A. (1989): An Introduction to the Study of Insects (6th edition). Saunders College Publishing.
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.
Description 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 living genera are in this family, encompassing some 50 described species all together:Tree of Life Web Project (ToL) (2007): Lonchopteridae. Version of 2007-NOV-29. Retrieved 2009-APR-07. Homolonchoptera Yang, 1998 Lonchoptera Meigen, 1803 Neolonchoptera Vaillant, 1989 Spilolonchoptera Yang, 1998
Two fossil genera of spear-winged flies have been described: Lonchopterites Grimaldi & Cumming, 1999 Lonchopteromorpha Grimaldi & Cumming, 1999
The Entomologist Andrew E. Whittington in 2024 suggested that all the living genera are synonyms with Lonchoptera The status of genera in the Lonchopteridae (Diptera), and new records of Lonchoptera from Taiwan Andrew E. Whittington. Zoonova, 38. 2024: .
Species West Palaearctic including Russia Australasian/Oceanian Nearctic Japan World list
References
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