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

Family Milichiidae - Freeloader Flies

Classification · Explanation of Names · Numbers · Size · Identification · Range · Habitat · Food · Life Cycle · Remarks · Internet References · Works Cited
Ant vs. Spider Milichiidae? A Case of the Spider that DIDN'T Eat the Fly? - female Opportunistic flies on Lynx Spider prey Diptera - Paramyia nitens Freeloader fly, Desmometopa sp. - Desmometopa Fly - Milichiella arcuata - male fly - Desmometopa
Classification
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Diptera (Flies)
No Taxon ("Acalyptratae")
Family Milichiidae (Freeloader Flies)
Explanation of Names
Milichiidae Schiner 1862
Numbers
36 spp. in 12 genera in our area(1), ~350 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
Internet References
EoL
Wikipedia
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 9 November, 2016 - 5:32pm

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