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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Flies (Diptera) » Acalyptratae » Tephritoidea » Signal Flies (Platystomatidae)

Family Platystomatidae - Signal Flies

Classification · Other Common Names · Explanation of Names · Numbers · Size · Identification · Habitat · Season · Life Cycle · Internet References · Works Cited
Tephritoid Fly? - Pogonortalis doclea Boatman Fly for California in June - Pogonortalis doclea Diptera - Senopterina caerulescens Signal Fly - Rivellia Signal Fly (Rivellia) - Rivellia Signal Fly - Rivellia Signal Fly - Rivellia Mating Signal Flies - Rivellia - male - female
Classification
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Diptera (Flies)
No Taxon (Acalyptratae)
Superfamily Tephritoidea
Family Platystomatidae (Signal Flies)
Other Common Names
Picture-Winged Flies (not recommended, as that name more commonly refers to Ulidiidae)
Explanation of Names
Signal Flies: wings are in almost constant motion, as though giving signals
Numbers
41 spp. in 4 genera in our area, of which 34 Rivellia spp.(1)
Size
body length 3-12 mm
Identification
can be separated from the similar Ulidiidae [=Otitidae] and Tephritidae by wing venation(2)
Habitat
Occur mostly in fields, some in woodlands.
Season
May-September in NC(3)
Life Cycle
Known larvae found on decaying vegetation(1)
Internet References
family description by L. Watson and M.J. Dallwitz
photos of stalk-eyed signal flies from SE. Asia (D. McAlpine)
live adult images of several Australian species (P. Chew)
Works Cited
1.American Insects: A Handbook of the Insects of America North of Mexico
By Ross H. Arnett
2.A Field Guide to Insects
By Richard E. White, Donald J. Borror, Roger Tory Peterson
3.Insects of North Carolina
By C.S. Brimley
Contributed by Cotinis on 16 February, 2004 - 12:32pm
Additional contributions by Robin McLeod, Keith Bayless, v belov
Last updated 2 December, 2010 - 12:07pm

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