Natalimyza

Natalimyza
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Diptera
Section: Schizophora
Subsection: Acalyptratae
Superfamily: Sciomyzoidea
Family: Natalimyzidae
Barraclough & McAlpine, 2006
Genus: Natalimyza
Barraclough & McAlpine, 2006
Type species
Natalimyza milleri

Natalimyza is a genus of flies placed in the family Natalimyzidae and known as African grass flies. There are about 30 species in Africa which are found mainly in grasslands where their larvae are thought to feed on decaying plant material. They are small (less than 5 mm or 0.20 in long) yellow to brown and appear like flies in the families Chyromyidae or Opomyzidae, but differentiated by bristles on the head, having four fronto-orbital bristles.[1]

  1. ^ Barraclough, David A.; McAlpine, David K. (2006-12-01). "Natalimyzidae, a new African family of acalyptrate flies (Diptera : Schizophora : Sciomyzoidea)". African Invertebrates. 47 (1): 117–134. ISSN 1681-5556.