Sciomyzidae

Sciomyzidae
Tetanocera sp. Size = 10mm[1]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Diptera
Section: Schizophora
Subsection: Acalyptratae
Superfamily: Sciomyzoidea
Family: Sciomyzidae
Fallén, 1820
Subfamilies

Sciomyzinae
Huttonininae (disputed)
Phaeomyiinae (disputed)
Salticellinae (disputed)

Synonyms

Huttoninidae (disputed)
Phaeomyiidae (disputed)
Tetanoceridae

Pherbellia annulipes hunting on decaying wood (video, 1m 6s)
Limnia sp. on a blade of grass (video, 34s)

The family Sciomyzidae belongs to the typical flies (Brachycera) of the order Diptera. They are commonly called marsh flies, and in some cases snail-killing flies due to the food of their larvae.[2]

Here, the Huttoninidae, Phaeomyiidae and Tetanoceridae are provisionally included in the Sciomyzidae. Particularly the latter seem to be an unequivocal part of this group and are ranked as tribe of subfamily Sciomyzinae by most modern authors, while the former two are very small lineages that may or may not stand outside the family and are provisionally ranked as subfamilies here. Whether the Salticellinae and the group around Sepedon warrant recognition as additional subfamilies or are better included in the Sciomyzinae proper is likewise not yet entirely clear. Altogether, the main point of contention is the relationship between the "Huttoninidae", "Phaeomyiidae", Sciomyzidae sensu stricto, and the Helosciomyzidae which were also once included in the Sciomyzidae.

Sciomyzidae are found in all the biogeographic realms but are poorly represented in the Australasian and Oceanian realms.

  1. ^ Cirrus Digital: Marsh Fly - Tetanocera species
  2. ^ Dennis P. Gordon (2009–2012). New Zealand inventory of biodiversity. Christchurch, N.Z.: Canterbury University Press. p. 337. ISBN 978-1-877257-72-8. OCLC 340800193.