Family APIOCERIDAE Bigot, 1857

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Introduction

Flies belonging to the family Apioceridae are found in several regions of the world, including North and South America, South Africa, Borneo and Sri Lanka. Apioceridae contains a single genus Apiocera. Approximately 150 species are currently known worldwide, of which Australia has the the most diverse apiocerid fauna in the world. In Australia, there are 67 described species.
The flies are medium to large bodied (~10-28 mm). All known species are restricted to mainland Australia, with the exception of one species of doubtful origin from Tasmania. The only substantial taxonomic work on this family was conducted by Paramonov (1953) - a major review including a key to species. Yeates and Irwin (1996) provided a revised classification of the family with the transfer of genus Rhaphiomidas and subfamily Megascelinae to family Mydidae. They also divided the world apiocerid fauna into four subgenera, with subgenus Apiocera proposed to accomodate the Australian fauna. For the purposes of this Australian catalogue all species are catalogued without displaying this subgeneric ranking, as they are all represented in the nominate genus.

Biology
The life history of one Australian species Apiocera maritima was recorded by English (1947). Little else is know about the biology of Australian species in this family.

General References

English, K.M.I. 1947. Notes on the morphology and biology of Apiocera maritima Hardy (Diptera, Aprioceridae). Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales 71: 296-302 [Date published 30 April]

Paramonov, S.J. 1953. A review of Australian Apioceridae (Diptera). Australian Journal of Zoology 1(3): 449-536 [Date published December]

Yeates, D.K. & Irwin, M.E. 1996. Apioceridae (Insecta: Diptera): cladistic reappraisal and biogeography. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 116(3): 247-301 [Date published March]

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