Fanniidae

Fanniidae
Fannia canicularis
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Diptera
Section: Schizophora
Superfamily: Muscoidea
Family: Fanniidae
Townsend, 1935[1]
Genera

The Fanniidae are a small (285 species in four genera) group of true flies largely confined to the Holarctic and temperate Neotropical ecozones; there are 11 Afrotropical species, 29 Oriental, and 14 Australasian.

Adults are medium-sized to small and usually have mainly dark body and leg colours. Males congregate in characteristic dancing swarms beneath trees; females are more retiring in habit. Larvae are characterised by their flattened bodies with striking lateral protuberances, and live as scavengers in various kinds of decaying organic matter.

The lesser housefly Fannia canicularis is a worldwide synanthropic species.

Fannidae are indicators useful in forensic entomology.

Identifying characteristics

The Fanniidae were once a subfamily of Muscidae from which they may be distinguished by:

References

  1. Townsend, C.H.T. (1935). Manual of myiology in twelve parts. Pt 2: Muscoid classification and habits. 2. Itaquaquecetuba, Sao Paulo. pp. 1–296.
  2. Pont, A.C. (1977). A revision of Australian Fanniidae (Diptera : Calyptrata). Australian Journal of Zoology Supplementary Series. pp. 1–60 pp.

Identification

References to identify the family include:

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Fanniidae.

Species lists

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