Bolitophila

Bolitophila
Bolitophila saundersii. Illustration from British Entomology
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Diptera
Superfamily:	Sciaroidea
Family:	Bolitophilidae Malloch, 1917
Genus:	Bolitophila Meigen, 1818

Bolitophila is the sole genus in the Bolitophilidae, a family of Diptera, , with around 40 Palaearctic and about 20 Nearctic species, and three species from the Oriental region (Taiwan).^{[1] [2]}

Schematic representation of the wing veins in the sub Bolitophila (above) and Cliopisa (below). Note the different termination of R 4 in the two subgenera. Legenda: Pt: pterostigma; C: costa; Sc: subcosta; R: radio; M: media; Cu: cubitus; A: anal; h: humeral; r-m: radio-medial; m-cu: medio-cubital.

Conformation of the wing-veins in the subgenus Bolitophila

Biology

The larvae of Bolitophila are mycetophagous and live in decaying wood or other organic debris overgrown by fungal plant substrates. Pupation takes place inside the fungal mycelium in soil or litter. Adults prefer shady and humid environments and can be found in the undergrowth of mixed forests, often near watercourses.

References

1. Ševaík, J. & Papp, L. 2004. Bolitophilidae (Diptera) from Taiwan: a family new to the Oriental region. Acta Zoologica Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae 50: 55–62.
2. Bechev, D. & Chandler, P. 2011. Catalogue of the Bolitophilidae and Diadocidiidae of the World (Insecta: Diptera). Zootaxa 2741: 38–58..

Further reading

• Amorim D. S. & Rindal E., 2007 Phylogeny of the Mycetophiliformia, with proposal of the subfamilies Heterotrichinae, Ohakuneinae, and Chiletrichinae for the Rangomaramidae (Diptera, Bibionomorpha). Zootaxa 1535: 1–92.
• Hutson A.M., Ackland, D.M., & Kidd, L.N. (1980) Diptera: Mycetophilidae. Royal Entomological Society of London Handbook 9(3).
• Plassmann E., 1988 Bolitophilidae, in Soós A. & Papp L. (eds), Catalogue of Palaearctic Diptera. Volume 3. Ceratopogonidae — Mycetophilidae. Akadémiai Kiadó, Budapest: 193–196.
• Séguy, E. (1940) Diptères: Nématocères. Paris: Éditions Faune de France 36. BibliothequeVirtuelleNumerique
• Søli, G.E.E., Vockeroth J.R., & Matile L. (2000) "Families of Sciaroidea." in Papp, L. & Darvas B. (eds) Contributions to a Manual of Palaearctic Diptera (with Special Reference to Flies of Economic Importance). Budapest: Science Herald, pp.49-92.
• Séguy, E. (1940) Diptères: Nématocères. Paris: Éditions Faune de France 36 BibliothequeVirtuelleNumerique

External links

• Data related to Bolitophilidae at Wikispecies
• Fungus gnats online