Curtonotidae

Curtotonidae is a small family of small grey to dark brown humpbacked flies (Diptera) with a worldwide distribution but with very few species in the Nearctic, Australasian/Oceanian and Palaearctic regions. Most members of the family are found in tropical to subtropical latitudes in Africa and the Neotropics. Many remain undescribed in collections, since little work on the family has been done since the 1930s.

Classification

The family has at various times been placed in the Drosophilidae, Diastatidae, and Ephydridae but family rank is now recognised.

Distribution

• Palaearctic 1 species
• Nearctic 1 species
• Australasian/Oceanian 1 species
• Afrotropical many species

Biology

Greathead (1958) records the immature stages as scavengers within egg pods of the desert locust, Schistocerca gregaria . Cuthbertson (1936) reared an Afrotropical species, Cyrtona albomacula Curran, from human faeces in Zimbabwe. Others have been found in the burrows of warthogs and ant bears.

Fossils

Only one fossil species of Curtonotidae is known, Curtonotum gigas Théobald, from Oligocene deposits in France.

Gallery

See images at [1] and at Diptera.info [2]

References and sources

• McAlpine, J. P. (ed.), 1981-89.Manual of Nearctic Diptera. Research Branch, Agriculture Canada Monograph
• Papp, L. 1998. Family Curtonotidae. I: Papp, L. and Darvas, B. (Ed.). Contributions to a Manual of Palaearctic Diptera. 3: 497-502. Science Herald, Budapest.
• http://no.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curtonotidae
• Pollck, J.N., 2002 Observations on the biology and anatomy of Curtonotidae (Diptera: Schizophora), by J. N. Pollock Journal of Natural History, 36,14:1725 - 1745.New information concerning the biology and anatomy of Curtonotum quinquevittatum.During the hot, dry season the latter species leaves its warthog burrow refuges at night. Cyrtona spp. rest in densely shaded humid habitats during the same season, dispersing in the cooler parts of the year.
• Meier, R., Kotrba, M., Barber, K. 1997. On the natural history and morphology of the egg, first instar larva, puparium, and female reproductive system of Curtonotum helvum (Curtonotidae; Ephydroidea; Diptera). American Museum Novitates 3219:1-20.[3]
• Greathead, D.J., Kooyman, C., Launois-Luong, M.H. and Popov,G.B., 1994. Les ennemis nanurels des criquets du Sahel ES collection Acridologie Opérationnelle no 8 (1994)[4] Some information on Curtonotidae on pp. 17–18.
• Kirk-Spriggs, A.H. & Freidberg, A. 2007. The Palaearctic species of Curtonotidae (Diptera: Schizophora), with special reference to the fauna of Israel. Bulletin de l’Institut r. des sciences naturelles de Belgique (Entomologie) 77: 133–146.

External links

• RU Revision of the Afrotropical species of Curtonotidae (Diptera: Ephydroidea) systematics, biology, immature stages and biogeography Proposal