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Subfamily Diaphorinae

Fly 01 - Chrysotus simulans - male Do any flies in the Camillidae family have an enlarged tarsus? - Chrysotus tarsalis - male Tiny Dolis? - Chrysotus - female Fly Fly - Chrysotus - female Fly - Chrysotus Fly in New Bern, NC Dolichopodidae 3
Classification
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Diptera (Flies)
No Taxon (Orthorrhapha)
Superfamily Empidoidea
Family Dolichopodidae (Longlegged Flies)
Subfamily Diaphorinae
Numbers
6 genera in our area(1), considering Achradocera but not Lyroneurus to be distinct from Chrysotus.
Size
Variable, but the common species are 2-3 mm long.
Identification
Normally with no preapical bristles on mid and hind femora, wings slightly spread at rest, hind margin of scutum not strongly flattened, first antenna segment without hairs, and wing vein M unbranched and nearly parallel to R4+5.
Remarks
One of the three commonly encountered subfamilies (along with Dolichopodinae and Sciapodinae).
Achradocera is a species group of Chrysotus currently given generic status. It is recognized by the shape of the male antennae. North American species also have a distinctive color pattern on the legs.
Argyra is normally easy to recognize by the silvery patches, large male antennae, and S-shaped vein M, although there are exceptions.
Asyndetus is recognized by the weak vein M and costa ending at R4+5.
Chrysotus and Diaphorus are ill-defined genera containing most of the species in the subfamily. Species move back and forth between them and identification is difficult. Male Diaphorus normally have long bristles on the tip of the abdomen.
Keirosoma is not represented in the guide.
Works Cited
1.Catalog of the Dolichopodidae (Diptera) of America north of Mexico
Marc A. A. Pollet et al. 2003. American Museum of Natural History.