List of obsolete names in Diptera explained
The higher-level classification of the insect order Diptera is in a constant state of flux, and over the last several decades, a vast number of names have been variously proposed, rejected, had their definitions changed, or altered spelling. Keeping track of all of these names is a challenging task, especially as there is no consensus as to the proper classification that should be used for this order, as well as reflecting a more fundamental challenge to the entire underlying principles of classification, which is especially evident among Dipteran systematists. The purpose of this article is to serve as a reference in situations where a reader may encounter an obsolete name in a printed or online resource, and otherwise be unable to find it.
Secondarily, this list also contains names referring to fossil taxa, whose placement into modern classifications is generally untenable, as classifications increasingly rely on molecular phylogenetics, which excludes fossils from consideration.
Families in the list below marked with a plus sign are extinct.
Non-cyclorrhaphan Brachycera
Higher level invalid names
- Anthomyiidea - superfamily, now in Muscoidea
- Asilidea - rank in Asiloidea
- Bibionidea - rank in infraorder Culicomorpha
- Bolitophilidea - invalid superfamily in Bibionomorpha
- Bombyliidea - rank in Asiloidea
- Borboridea - rank in family Stratiomyomorpha
- Braulomorpha - infraorder, now in superfamily Carnoidea
- Chironomidea - rank in infraorder Culicomorpha
- Chloropidea - superfamily, now in Carnoidea
- Conopidea - rank in Conopoidea
- Culicidea - rank in infraorder Culicomorpha
- Culicimorpha - misspelling? of Culicomorpha
- Dixidea - rank in infraorder Culicomorpha
- Drosophiloidea - superfamily, roughly equivalent to Ephydroidea
- Empididea - rank in Empidoidea
- Gastrophilidea - rank in family Oestridae
- Glossinidea - rank in superfamily Hippoboscoidea
- Heleomyzidea - superfamily, redistributed to Sphaeroceroidea, Sciomyzoidea and Opomyzoidea
- Hippoboscidea - rank in superfamily Hippoboscoidea
- Mesophantasmatidea - rank in infraorder Culicomorpha
- Muscidea - rank in superfamily Muscoidea
- Musidoromorpha - rank in superfamily Platypezoidea
- Myiomorpha - infraorder, roughly equivalent to Cyclorrhapha
- Nycteribiomorpha - rank in superfamily Hippoboscoidea
- Oestridea - rank in superfamily Oestroidea
- Orphnephilidea - rank in infraorder Culicomorpha
- Pachyneuridea - invalid superfamily in Bibionomorpha
- Phoromorpha - rank in superfamily Platypezoidea
- Phragmoligoneuridea - extinct rank in infraorder Culicomorpha
- Platypezidea - rank in superfamily Platypezoidea
- Psilidea - superfamily, redistributed to Diopsoidea and Nerioidea
- Pupipara - archaic equivalent of superfamily Hippoboscoidea
- Rhaetomyiidea - rank in infraorder Culicomorpha
- Rhyphidea - rank in infraorder Bibionomorpha
- Sapromyzidea - superfamily, redistributed between Lauxanioidea and Tephritoidea
- Sarcophagidea - rank in superfamily Oestroidea
- Somatiidea - superfamily, now in Diopsoidea
- Stratiomyidea - synonym for superfamily Stratiomyomorpha
- Streblomorpha - rank in superfamily Hippoboscoidea
- Syrphidea - rank in superfamily Syrphoidea
- Tabanidea - synonym for superfamily Tabanomorpha
- Tachinidea - rank in superfamily Oestroidea
- Termitoxeniomorpha - rank in superfamily Platypezoidea
- Trypetidea - superfamily, now in superfamily Tephritoidea
References
Curtis Williams Sabrosky Family group names in the Diptera and Bibliography downloadable pdf https://web.archive.org/web/20080411095829/http://www.sel.barc.usda.gov/Diptera/people/FCT_pdf/FGNAMES.pdf
External links
