Family KEROPLATIDAE Rondani, 1856
Compiler and date details
2011 - Updated by Judy King and Christine Lambkin, Queensland Museum
1999 - E.-M.E. Bugledich, CSIRO Entomology, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
Introduction
The Keroplatidae are a moderately species-rich family erected from amongst the Mycetophilidae for some 800 species in 90 genera. The family is worldwide in distribution including the subarctic and subantarctic regions, but with strong representation in Gondwanan areas and in Indo-Malaya. Biogeographical relationships and fossil evidence indicate a minimum of Cretaceous age for the grouping with probable Upper Jurassic representation even of extant genera.
Adult Keroplatidae are recognised by their wing venation, in which veins M and CuA1 are connected by a distinct crossvein (bm-cu) placed either far distant to crossvein r-m (Arachnocampinae) or with crossvein r-m absent (the remaining subfamilies).
Larval Keroplatinae include some well-known 'glow worms` (genus Arachnocampa) which suspend themselves on silken threads from cave roofs, and lure other small nematocerans to their light. Other keroplatid larvae spin silken webs in damp places, including beneath polypore (bracket) fungi, where they are predatory or mycophagous.
General References
Edwards, F.W. 1924. A note on the "New Zealand glow-worm" (Diptera, Mycetophilidae). Annals and Magazine of Natural History 9 14: 175-179
Evenhuis, N.L. 2006. Catalog of the Keroplatidae of the world. Bishop Museum Bulletin in Entomology 13: 177 pp.
Ferguson, E.W. 1925. Description of a new species of Mycetophilidae (Diptera) with luminous larvae. Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales 50: 487-488
Gatenby, J.B. 1959. Notes on the New Zealand Glow-worm, Bolitophila (Arachnocampa) luminosa. Transactions of the Royal Society of New Zealand 87(3–4): 291-314
Gatenby, J.B. 1960. The Australasian Mycetophilid Glowworms. Transactions of the Royal Society of New Zealand 88: 577-593
Goede, A. 1967. Tasmanian cave fauna: character and distribution. Helictite, Journal of Australasian Cave Research 5(4): 71-85
Harrison, R.A. 1966. Australian glow-worms of the genus Arachnocampa Edwards (Diptera: Mycetophilidae). Pacific Insects 8: 877-883
Hickman, V.V. 1965. On Planarivora insignis gen. et sp. n. (Diptera: Mycetophilidae), whose larval stages are parasitic in land planarians. Papers and Proceedings of the Royal Society of Tasmania 99: 1-8
Hudson, G.V. 1887. On New Zealand Glow-worms. Transactions of the New Zealand Institute 19: 62-64
Hutson, A.M., Ackland, D.M. & Kidd, L.N. 1980. Mycetophilidae (Bolitophilinae, Ditomyiinae, Diadocidiinae, Keroplatinae, Sciophilinae and Manotinae). Handbooks for the Identification of British Insects 9(3): 1-111
Jackson, J.F. 1974. Goldschmidt's dilemma resolved: notes on the larval behavior of a new Neotropical web-spinning Mycetophilid (Diptera). American Midland Naturalist 92: 240-245
Lee, J. 1976. Bioluminescence of the Australian Glow-worm Arachnocampa richardsae Harrison. Photochemistry and Photobiology 24: 279-285
Matile, L. 1990. Recherches sur la systématique et l'évolution des Keroplatidae (Diptera, Mycetophiloidea). Mémoires du Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, Paris [1936-1950] A 148: 1-682
Perkins, R.A. 1935. "Glow Worms" and other insects collected at Numinbah, Nerang Valley, Easter Camp, Queensland Naturalist Club, 1935. Queensland Naturalist 1935: 84-85
Pugsley, C.W. 1983. Literature review of the New Zealand glowworm. Arachnocampa luminosa (Diptera: Keroplatidae), and related cave dwelling Diptera. New Zealand Entomologist 7(4): 387-407
History of changes
| Published | As part of group | Action Date | Action Type | Compiler(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16-Nov-2011 | 16-Nov-2011 | MODIFIED | ||
| 12-Feb-2010 | (import) |