Australian Biological Resources Study

Australian Faunal Directory

Scatopsidae

Scatopsidae

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Family SCATOPSIDAE Newman, 1834


Compiler and date details

1999 - E.-M.E. Bugledich, CSIRO Entomology, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia

Introduction

The Scatopsidae are a species-poor, cosmopolitan family of small dark nematocerans with 1 segmented palps, and wings with distinctly darkened and thickened anterior radial veins contrasting with paler posterior veins. Adults are encountered on flowers, and associated with decaying vegetative and animal materials of many kinds. The latter habitats are the preferred breeding site for some of the few species whose biologies are known, including two cosmopolitan species Scatopse notata and Coboldia fuscipes. Larval Scatopsidae are dorsoventrally flattened, with an exerted (non-retractile) head capsule, peripneustic respiratory system with spiracles on protuberances in some taxa.

There are some 250 species worldwide, with a dozen or more species known as fossils, dating from as early as the Upper Cretaceous.

 

History of changes

Note that this list may be incomplete for dates prior to September 2013.
Published As part of group Action Date Action Type Compiler(s)
02-May-2011 02-May-2011 MODIFIED
12-Feb-2010 (import)