Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Cyrtidae Newman 1834
Numbers
~60 spp. in 7 genera in our area
(1), ~400 spp. in 55 genera worldwide
(2)Identification
Humpbacked flies with thorax and abdomen balloon-like; small heads with
holoptic eyes (covering most of the head); and large, conspicuous calypters (membranous disk-like structures) tucked-in at the base of the wings. Also, the wings are pleated with many folds on the membrane. Many species mimic bees/wasps or even beetles.
Key to genera in
(3); keys to nearctic species in
(4); to western spp. in
(5)
Separating nearctic genera
◾Proboscis very long; antennae inserted near middle of eyes; abdomen less swollen than in other genera:
3 ocelli on a tubercle ⇒
Eulonchus
2 ocelli, no tubercle; abdomen more swollen and evenly convex ⇒
Lasia
◾Mouthparts very short; antennae inserted otherwise; abdomen more swollen
▬ Antennae nearly as long as face, sausage-like ⇒
Ocnaea
▬ Antennae inserted near top of head
Eyes densely pilose ⇒
Turbopsebius
• Eyes bare ⇒
Acrocera
▬ Antennae inserted near bottom of eye, very short ⇒
Ogcodes, Pterodontia
Eyes bare; tibiae without spurs ⇒
Ogcodes
Eyes pilose; tibiae with small apical spurs; in males, costal edge with a tooth-like projection ⇒
Pterodontia
Range
Cosmopolitan; in our area, most diverse in sw. US
(1)Habitat
Most common in semi-arid tropical locations
Life Cycle
The first instar larva ('planidium') seeks out spiders. When a spider contacts a planidium, the larva grabs hold of the spider, crawls up the spider's legs to its body, and forces its way through the body wall, often lodging near the book lung, where it may remain for years before completing its development.
Mating usually in flight; female begin to lay up to 5000 eggs soon after mating and may continue during the following 2-10 days. The tiny, pear-shaped, black, microtype eggs are deposited either in flight upon the ground (
Eulonchus), upon dead branches (
Ogcodes), upon tree trunks (
Pterodontia), or upon grass stems (
Acrocera). Eggs hatch in 3-6 weeks giving rise to small planidial larvae. Most 1st instar planidia must seek out their spider hosts and can crawl or jump with "inchworm-like" movements. There is only one generation per year with the acrocerines (
Acrocera, Ogcodes, Turbopsebius) on their araneomorph hosts; but many panopines (
Eulonchus, Lasia, Ocnaea, Pterodontia) seem to have only one generation every 5-10 years due to the longer immature stages of their mygalomorph hosts.
(6)Remarks
Most commonly collected when a spider from the field is brought into captivity.
Eulochus and Lasia are strong flyers, with a metallic sheen and very long mouthparts, and often seen nectaring on flowers. Most other genera are more cumbersome flyers with a duller sheen, often appearing to have no mouthparts at all, and more typically found on stems, leaves, or grass.
