Celyphidae
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Celyphidae or beetle flies, beetle-backed flies is a family Diptera. About 90 species are known from the Oriental and Afrotropic biiogeographic regions.
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[edit] Family Characters
Celyphidae are small to medium-sized and easily recognised . The scutellum is enlarged, forming a protective shell over the abdomen, giving them a beetlelike appearance.Also, like many beetles, Celyphidae are often shiny or metallic in color. The wings, when at rest, are folded beneath the scutellar “shell”.
[edit] Identification (Literature)
Date order
- Frey, R. 1941. Die Gattungen und Arten der Dipterenfamilie Celyphidae. Notul. Entomol. 21: 3-16. Keys genera, species.
- Vanschuytbroeck, P. 1959. Celyphidae (Diptera Acalyptratae). Explor. Parc Natl. Garamba Mission H. de Saeger 13: 27-44. Keys genera, species.
- Tenorio, J.M. 1972. A revision of the Celyphidae (Diptera) of the Oriental Region. Trans. R. Entomol. Soc. Lond. 123: 359-453.
- Paap, L. Celyphidae in Soós, Á, Paap, L. (Eds.) 1984 - 1992. Catalogue of Palaearctic Diptera 9 . Akadémiai Kiadó, Budapest - Elsevier, Amsterdam: 63-66..
[edit] Biology
The biology of the family is poorly known. Adults are found in along streams and rivers, and in wet grassy areas. Larvae are saprophagous.
[edit] Other
Celyphidae are considered the sister taxon of Lauxaniidae by some authors (e.g., Griffiths 1972).
