Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Fig. 94 Antenna of a cyclorrhaphid fly - suborder
Cyclorrhapha.
Fig. 93 Wing venation of a dance fly - family
Hybotidae.
mainly on Diptera (notably, Agromyzidae and
Cecidomyiidae). The larvae are also predacious.
Adults are characterized by their small size and
rigid proboscis, and by the distinctive 'nick' (in-
dentation) on the inner margin of the compound
eyes; the tibia of each mid-leg often bears dis-
tinct spurs. Adults are distinguished from mem-
bers of the Empididae largely on the basis of
their wing venation - the veins usually extending
to the wing margin without obvious forking
(Fig.
93).
EXAMPLE:
Platypalpus
spp.
Fig. 95 Cephalopharyngeal skeleton (mouthparts) of
the larva of a cyclorrhaphid fly.
11. Family DOLICHOPODIDAE
(long-legged flies)
teristic appearance for the family, subfamily or
species. Features of the paired anterior and
posterior spiracles of larvae are often helpful
for distinguishing between species; also, the
posterior spiracles of first-, second- and third-
instar larvae usually (but not in the family
Agromyzidae) each have one, two or three slit-
like pores, respectively. Pupae are exarate and
housed within a barrel-like puparium, formed
from the cast-off skin of the final-instar larva
(see Fig. 13). Adults emerge from the puparium
by cutting off a more or less circular cap (the
operculum).
This suborder comprises two distinct groups:
the ASCHIZA and the SCHIZOPHORA. In
the latter, a small balloon-like structure (the
ptilinum) is projected temporarily from the front
of the head of the young adult fly to aid emer-
gence from the puparium.
Adults are typically metallic bluish or metallic
greenish, with (in males) often noticeably promi-
nent genitalia. Most species are predacious on
small insects, such as Collembola, Thysanoptera
and other Diptera. The soil-inhabiting larvae are
also predacious.
EXAMPLE:
Dolichopus
spp.
Suborder CYCLORRHAPHA
Adults usually with 3-segmented antennae, the
third segment enlarged and bearing a simple or
plumose bristle (arista) dorsally (Fig. 94); palps
1-segmented. Larvae are typical maggots, with a
vestigial head and the body distinctly tapered
anteriorly. The head and mouthparts are re-
tracted into the thorax and form a usually pig-
mented cephalopharyngeal skeleton (Fig. 95);
this structure includes a pair of black, shiny ar-
ticulating mouth-hooks and is often of charac-
Series ASCHIZA
Ptilinum absent.
