Acartophthalmidae Explained

The Acartophthalmidae are a family of very small (1.0-2.5 mm), dark flies with pubescent arista and having ocelli, placed in the order Diptera. All are Holarctic in distribution. Two fossil species are known, with uncertain placement.

Genera

Flies in the family have a pubescent arista on the antenna. They have ocelli and a characteristic bristle pattern on the head. The wing is sometimes tinged along the costa and there is a humeral break in the costal vein.

• †Acartophthalmites Hennig, 1965^[1]
• Acartophthalmus Czerny, 1902^[2]

Biology

Adults have been found mostly in forests, often on fungi and decaying wood. Larvae have been reared from dead wood and decaying organic material.^[3]

Notes and References

1. Hennig . W. . Die Acalyptratae des Baltischen Bernsteins und ihre Bedeutung fur die Erforschung der phylogenetischen Entwicklung dieser Dipteren-Gruppe . Stuttgarter Beiträge zur Naturkunde . 1965 . 145 . 1–215 . 20 January 2022.
2. Czerny. Leander. Bemerkungen zu den Arten der Gattungen Anthomyza Fll. und Ischnomyia Lw.. Wiener Entomologische Zeitung. 1902. 21. 249–256. 11 August 2015.
3. Book: 9789004278066 . The European Families of the Diptera: Identification - Diagnosis - Biology . Oosterbroek . Pjotr . 2015 . Brill. 110.