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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Flies (Diptera) » "Acalyptratae" » Carnoidea » Freeloader Flies (Milichiidae)

Family Milichiidae - Freeloader Flies

Classification · Explanation of Names · Numbers · Size · Identification · Range · Habitat · Food · Life Cycle · Remarks · Works Cited
ID for Fly with Silver Abdomen in California? Opportunistic flies on Lynx Spider prey Flies on Geum canadense flower - Paramyia Phymata, Ceratina and free loader flies - Neophyllomyza Fly - Phyllomyza Tiny fly - Desmometopa Vail fly D - Paramyia Milichiidae
Classification
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Diptera (Flies)
No Taxon ("Acalyptratae")
Superfamily Carnoidea
Family Milichiidae (Freeloader Flies)
Explanation of Names
Milichiidae Schiner 1862
Numbers
36 spp. in 12 genera in our area(1), close to 400 spp. in 18 genera total(2)
Size
1-5 mm(1)
Identification
Small, usually black or silvery.
Range
worldwide(2)
Habitat
open landscapes, forests & forest edges, forest canopy, stables/houses, caves(2)
Food
Larvae are generally saprophagous and live in decaying plants, but several are copro-/necrophagous(2); some are commensals of predatory insects, riding on them and feeding on exudates of the victims; often attend predators with Stink Bug prey
Life Cycle
larval stage generally lasts 2–3 weeks
Remarks
may be common in open areas
Works Cited
1.American Insects: A Handbook of the Insects of America North of Mexico
Ross H. Arnett. 2000. CRC Press.
2.Brake I. (2007-) Milichiidae online
Contributed by Lynette Elliott on 6 July, 2005 - 6:35am
Additional contributions by cotinis, Beatriz Moisset, xylo, v belov
Last updated 30 May, 2023 - 5:22pm

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