Family PLATYPEZIDAE Latreille, 1829
Flat-footed Flies, Smoke Flies
Compiler and date details
January 2011 - Scott Ginn, Australian Museum, Sydney, Australia
2007 - R. Johnson, data taken from Evenhuis, N.L. Catalog of the Diptera of the Australasian and Oceanian Regions (accessed 2007)
Introduction
The family Platypezidae is presently known form approximately 250 species worldwide. Three subfamilies are represented in Australia, each by a single genus. There are currently 19 described species in the Australian fauna.
Early work on the Australian platypezid fauna was done by Tonnoir (1925) including a key to Platypeza. Chandler (1994) carried out a major revison of the Australasian and Oriental fauna including keys to all groups.
Biology
Species are typically encountered in forested areas. Adults dart around erratically on wood and plants searching for food deposits. The hind tarsi are enlarged and flattened in two subfamilies (Callomyiinae and Platypezinae) leading to the common name 'flat-footed flies'. Species in the genus Microsania are known to form mating swarms in association with smoke from fires.
General References
Bickel, D.J. 1996. Smoke Flies (Diptera: Platypezidae) and the Sydney bushfires. Australian Entomologist 23(2): 77-78 [Date published September]
Chandler, P.J. 1994. The Oriental and Australasian species of Platypezidae. Invertebrate Taxonomy 8: 351-434 [Date published 28 June]
Tonnoir, A.L. 1925. Australian Platypezidae (Diptera). Records of the Australian Museum 14: 306-312 [Date published 9 April]
History of changes
| Published | As part of group | Action Date | Action Type | Compiler(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01-Feb-2019 | DIPTERA Linnaeus, 1758 | 19-Dec-2018 | MODIFIED | |
| 03-Feb-2011 | 03-Feb-2011 | MODIFIED | ||
| 12-Feb-2010 | (import) |