Fanniidae

Fanniidae
Fannia canicularis
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Diptera
(unranked): Cyclorrhapha
Section: Schizophora
Subsection: Calyptratae
Superfamily: Muscoidea
Family: Fanniidae
Schnabl & Dziedzicki, 1911[1]
Genera

The Fanniidae are a small (285 species in five genera) group of true flies largely confined to the Holarctic and temperate Neotropical realms; there are 11 Afrotropical species, 29 Oriental, and 14 Australasian.

Adults are medium-sized to small and usually have mainly dark body and leg colours. Males congregate in characteristic dancing swarms beneath trees; females are more retiring in habit. Larvae are characterised by their flattened bodies with striking lateral protuberances, and live as scavengers in various kinds of decaying organic matter.

The lesser housefly Fannia canicularis is a worldwide synanthropic species.

Fanniidae are indicators useful in forensic entomology.

  1. ^ Townsend, C.H.T. (1935). Manual of myiology in twelve parts. Pt 2: Muscoid classification and habits. Vol. 2. Itaquaquecetuba, Sao Paulo. pp. 1–296.
  2. ^ Pont, A.C. (1977). A revision of Australian Fanniidae (Diptera : Calyptrata). Australian Journal of Zoology Supplementary Series. pp. 1–60 pp.
  3. ^ Domínguez, M. Cecilia; Pont, Adrian C. (2014). "Fanniidae (Insecta: Diptera)". Fauna of New Zealand. 71: 1–92. Retrieved 29 November 2018.