Anthomyiidae Explained

The Anthomyiidae are a large and diverse family of Muscoidea flies. Most look rather like small houseflies. Most species are drab grey to black. Many Pegomya are yellow, and some members of the genera Anthomyia and Eutrichota are patterned in black-and-white or black-and-silvery-grey. Most are difficult to identify, apart from a few groups such as the kelp flies that are conspicuous on beaches.

The name Anthomyiidae was derived from Greek anthos (flower) plus myia (a fly).

Some species are commonly called "root-maggots", as the larvae are found in the stems and roots of various plants. As larvae, some also feed on decaying plant material. The well-known grey "seaweed flies" or "kelp flies" (Fucellia) are examples.[1] Others are scavengers in such places as birds' nests; yet other species are leaf miners; the family also includes inquilines, commensals, and parasitic larvae.

Some species in the family are significant agricultural pests,[2] particularly some from the genus Delia, which includes the onion fly (D. antiqua), the wheat bulb fly (D. coarctata), the turnip root fly (D. floralis), the seedcorn maggot (D. platura), and the cabbage root fly (D. radicum).

In some contexts, like mountain environments, the adults can be common flower visitors,[3] also being involved in pollination.[4]

Description

For terms see Morphology of Diptera
These flies are small or moderate in size. Hypopleural bristles found on the sides of the thorax are apical. The anal vein of the wing reaches the margin of the wings (except in Chelisia). The median vein is straight, not curved towards the anterior alar margin. Three pairs of postsutural dorsocentral bristles almost always are present. The first segment of the posterior tarsi are on the lower side near the base with minute bristles. The sternopleuron lower side often has short, soft hairs. Eyes in the male in most cases are close-set or contiguous. Females of many species are not known as of yet. Anthomyiidae, commonly referred to as "root-maggot flies," exhibit small to moderate sizes and distinctive anatomical features, including hypopleural bristles on the thorax and a characteristic wing vein structure. Notably, the presence of three pairs of postsutural dorsocentral bristles is a common trait among these flies. Furthermore, the close-set or contiguous eyes in males and the limited knowledge about females in many species underscore the need for further research into Anthomyiidae biology and behavior.

Classification

See also

References

Wyman, J. A., Libby, J. L., & Chapman, R. K. (1977). Cabbage Maggot Management Aided by Predictions of Adult Emergence12. Journal of Economic Entomology., 70(3), 327–331. https://doi.org/10.1093/jee/70.3.327

GRISALES, D., LOPES, A. C., & DE CARVALHO, C. J. B. (2016). FAMILY ANTHOMYIIDAE. Zootaxa, 4122(1), 803–806. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4122.1.68

Lasa, R., Córdova-García, G., Navarro-de-la-Fuente, L., & Williams, T. (2024). Sticky traps and water pan traps to monitor Delia planipalpis (Diptera: Anthomyiidae), an emerging pest of broccoli in Mexico. Crop Protection, 176, 106495-. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cropro.2023.106495

Further reading

Identification

Species lists

External links

Notes and References

  1. Book: Alan Weaving . Mike Picker . Griffiths, Charles Llewellyn . Field Guide to Insects of South Africa . New Holland Publishers, Ltd . 2003 . 1-86872-713-0 .
  2. Finch. Stan. 1989. Ecological Considerations in the Management of Delia Pest Species in Vegetable Crops. Annual Review of Entomology. 34. 117–137. 10.1146/annurev.en.34.010189.001001.
  3. Bonelli. Marco. Eustacchio. Elena. Avesani. Daniele. Michelsen. Verner. Falaschi. Mattia. Caccianiga. Marco. Gobbi. Mauro. Casartelli. Morena. 2022. The Early Season Community of Flower-Visiting Arthropods in a High-Altitude Alpine Environment . Insects. 13. 4. 393. 10.3390/insects13040393. 35447835. 9032982. free.
  4. Wagner. Johanna. Lechleitner . Martin . Hosp . Daniela . 2016. Pollen limitation is not the rule in nival plants: A study from the European Central Alps . American Journal of Botany. 103. 3. 375–387. 10.3732/ajb.1500214. 26933013. free.