Family Scatopsidae - Minute Black Scavenger Flies

Classification · Numbers · Size · Identification · Season · Food · Life Cycle · Internet References

Minute Black Scavenger Fly (Scatopsidae)

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Class Insecta (Insects)

Order Diptera (Flies)

No Taxon ("Nematocera" (Non-Brachycera))

Infraorder Psychodomorpha

Family Scatopsidae (Minute Black Scavenger Flies)

Numbers

Borror and Delong list 76 North American species.

Size

0.6-5 mm

Identification

Veins along wing margin strong, while remaining veins are generally weak. Short antennae.

Season

Summer. May-August (Rhegmoclema hubachecki, Minnesota).

Food

Adults sometimes reported from flowers.

Life Cycle

Larvae feed on decaying organic matter, such as detritus or excrement.

Internet References

Insects of Cedar Creek

Australasian/Oceanian Diptera Catalog--some discussion of life history

Contributed by Cotinis on 17 November, 2005 - 8:12am
Additional contributions by Brad Barnd
Last updated 24 November, 2007 - 5:46pm

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