| Stilt-legged flies | |
|---|---|
| |
| Neria sp. from Portugal | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Diptera |
| Section: | Schizophora |
| Subsection: | Acalyptratae |
| Superfamily: | Nerioidea |
| Family: | Micropezidae Loew, 1861 |
| Type genus | |
| Micropeza Meigen, 1803
| |
| Subfamilies | |
| Diversity | |
| 54 genera, 5 subfamilies | |
The Micropezidae are a moderate-sized family of acalyptrate muscoid flies in the insect order Diptera, comprising about 500 species in about 50 genera and five subfamilies worldwide, (except New Zealand and Macquarie Island).[1] They are most diverse in tropical and subtropical habitats, especially in the Neotropical Region.
Insects in this family are commonly called stilt-legged flies, after their characteristically long legs. The fore legs are markedly smaller than the other pairs. Mostly, they are long-bodied, often black flies, usually with infuscated (darkened) wings. Wings are reduced in the genera Calycopteryx and entirely absent in the ant-like Badisis ambulans.[1]
- ^ a b McAlpine, D.K. (1998). Review of the Australian stilt flies (Diptera: Micropezidae) with a phylogenetic analysis of the family. Invertebrate Taxonomy 12:55–134. doi:10.1071/IT96018 (with key to Australian species)