Somatia

Somatia
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Diptera
Suborder: Brachycera
Infraorder: Muscomorpha
(unranked): Eremoneura
(unranked): Cyclorrhapha
Section: Schizophora
Superfamily: Diopsoidea
Family: Somatiidae
Hendel, 1935
Genus: Somatia
Schiner, 1868

Somatia is the sole genus of the acalyptrate brachyceran fly family Somatiidae. The genus includes about seven Neotropical species of small (3-5 mm long) black and yellow flies with a stout and rounded thorax having transverse suture. The legs are separated from the main body by an elongated post-coxal bridge. The broad abdomen is downcurved. The antenna are elbowed with the arista bipectinate. Somatiids resemble members of the Syringogastridae due to the enlarged pronotum and a postcoxal bridge but they have a petiolate abdomen.[1]

Adult Somatia have been found feeding on a dead caterpillar and aggregating on the extra-floral nectaries of Solanaceae,[2] Bignoniaceae and Passifloraceae.[1]

The placement of the group is doubtful, it is placed in the Diopsoidea but an incomplete phylogenetic analysis has suggested a closeness to the Agromyzidae.[3]

Species in the genus include:

  1. ^ a b Lonsdale, Owen (2020). "Family groups of Diopsoidea and Nerioidea (Diptera: Schizophora)—Definition, history and relationships". Zootaxa. 4735 (1): zootaxa.4735.1.1. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.4735.1.1. PMID 32230232.
  2. ^ Carvalho-Filho, Fernando Da Silva (2017-04-28). "Aggregation of Somatia aestiva (Fabricius) (Diptera: Somatiidae) on leaves of Solanum stramonifolium Jacq". EntomoBrasilis. 10 (1): 54–56. doi:10.12741/ebrasilis.v10i1.657. ISSN 1983-0572.
  3. ^ Han, Ho-Yeon; Ro, Kyung-Eui (2005). "Molecular phylogeny of the superfamily Tephritoidea (Insecta: Diptera): New evidence from the mitochondrial 12S, 16S, and COII genes". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 34 (2): 416–430. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2004.10.017. PMID 15619452.