Identification, Images, & Information
For Insects, Spiders & Their Kin
For the United States & Canada

Family Pallopteridae - Flutter Flies

Flutter Fly - Toxonevra superba Fly ? Toxonevra sp.? - Toxonevra superba Toxonevra superba What the heck is this? - Toxonevra muliebris Unknown Fly - Toxonevra superba reddish fly - female Antlered Flutter Fly - Toxonevra superba
Classification
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Diptera (Flies)
No Taxon ("Acalyptratae")
Superfamily Tephritoidea
Family Pallopteridae (Flutter Flies)
Other Common Names
Flutter-wing Flies, Pictured-wing Flies, Picture Wing Flies
Explanation of Names
Pallopteridae Loew 1862
Numbers
9 species in our area(1), in 3 genera (Palloptera, Temnosira, Toxonevra) ~70 spp. in 12 genera total(2)
Size
4-6 mm
Identification
Wings usually conspicuously longer than the abdomen and with dark markings; proboscis short and thick; ovipositor with a non-retractile sheath
see (3)
Range
Throughout NA and the temperate regions of the world
Habitat
Adults on flowers and low-hanging branches in shady habitats, larvae under bark, and in flower buds and stems
Food
Larvae phytophagous or predaceous on longhorn & bark beetle larvae (Cerambycidae, Curculionidae: Scolytinae)
Internet References