Platystomatidae

Platystomatidae
Platystoma seminationis
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Diptera
Superfamily: Tephritoidea
Family: Platystomatidae
Schiner, 1862
Subfamilies[1]
Strange courtship behaviour of the European signal fly Platystoma seminationis (video, 7m 19s)

The Platystomatidae (signal flies) are a distinctive family of flies (Diptera) in the superfamily Tephritoidea.

Signal flies are worldwide in distribution, found in all the biogeographic realms, but predominantly in the tropics. It is one of several families of acalyptrate Diptera with over 1000 species, comprising around 1200 species in 127 genera.