The Bombyliidae are a family of flies. Their common name are bee flies or humbleflies. Adults generally feed on nectar and pollen, some being important pollinators. Larvae generally are parasitoids of other insects.
The Drosophilidae are a diverse, cosmopolitan family of flies, which includes fruit flies. Another unrelated family of flies, Tephritidae, also includes species known as "small fruit flies". The best known species of the Drosophilidae is Drosophila melanogaster, within the genus Drosophila, and this species is used extensively for studies concerning genetics, development, physiology, ecology and behaviour. This fruit fly is mostly composed of post-mitotic cells, has a very short lifespan, and shows gradual aging. As in other species, temperature influences the life history of the animal. Several genes have been identified that can be manipulated to extend the lifespan of these insects. Additionally, Drosophila subobscura, also within the genus Drosophila, has been reputed as a model organism for evolutionary-biological studies.
The Ulidiidae or picture-winged flies are a large and diverse cosmopolitan family of flies (Diptera), and as in related families, most species are herbivorous or detritivorous. They are often known as picture-winged flies, along with members of other families in the superfamily Tephritoidea that have patterns of bands or spots on the wings. Some species share with the Tephritidae an unusual elongated posteroapical projection of the anal cell in the wing, but can be differentiated by the smoothly curving subcostal vein. Two species, Tetanops myopaeformis and Euxesta stigmatias, are agricultural pests.
The Dryomyzidae are a small family of flies ranging from 4–18 mm long, with prominent bristles, and yellow to brown or rust-yellow coloring. The wings are very large. The subcosta is complete and well separated from vein 1. Larvae feed on decaying organic matter - carrion, dung, and fungi. The prelambrum protrudes from the oral cavity. Vibrissae are absent and the postvertical bristles are divergent.
Diastatidae are a family of flies, and are in the order Diptera. They occur primarily in the Holarctic Region, but several species are known from the Oriental, Neotropical, and Australasian regions. Members of the family number over 20 described species in three genera. There is an additional fossil genus.
Mythicomyiidae, commonly called mythicomyiids, are very tiny flies (0.5–5.0 mm) found throughout most parts of the world, especially desert and semi-desert regions, except the highest altitudes and latitudes. They are not as common in the tropics, but genera such as Cephalodromia and Platypygus are known from these regions. Many of these "microbombyliids" have a humpbacked thorax and lack the dense vestiture common in the Bombyliidae. Mythicomyiids have until recently not had much attention in the literature. Their small size has caused them to be missed when collecting. Yellow pan trapping and fine-mesh netting in Malaise and aerial sweep nets has resulted in a number of undescribed species from many parts of the world. A high diversity of both genera and species exists for this family in Africa, especially northern and southern portions. About 350 species are known. Hundreds more await description.
The Richardiidae are a family of Diptera in the superfamily Tephritoidea.
Tephritis is a genus of flies. It contains around 170 described species, making it the sixth largest genus in the family Tephritidae. Many more undescribed species are known from specimen collections. Tephritis occur throughout much of the world, but most are Palearctic. They can be found in a wide range of climate types, from hot semidesert to tundra. Most species inhabit the inflorescences of plants from several tribes in the family Asteraceae, and a few species cause galls to form.
Pseudotephritis is a genus of picture-winged flies in the family Ulidiidae.
Ulidia is a genus of picture-winged flies in the family Ulidiidae.
Herina is a genus of flies in the family Ulidiidae. It is possibly the largest genus in the family.
Minettia is a genus of small flies of the family Lauxaniidae. They have almost worldwide distribution, is one of the most species rich genera of the family with more than 120 described species. The Palaearctic is the most diverse with some 56 described species. The genus is divided into 3 subgenera.
Timia is a genus of flies in the family Ulidiidae, which is difficult to separate from the genus Ulidia.
Platystoma is a genus of flies (Diptera) belonging to the family Platystomatidae.
Loxocera is a genus of flies and member of the family Psilidae.
Rainieria is a genus of stilt-legged flies in the family Micropezidae. There are at least 20 described species in Rainieria.
Grallipeza is a genus of stilt-legged flies in the family Micropezidae. There are at least 40 described species in Grallipeza.
Compsobata is a genus of stilt-legged flies in the family Micropezidae. There are at least 20 described species in Compsobata.
Clusiodes is a genus of flies in the family Clusiidae. There are at least 70 described species in Clusiodes.
Heteromeringia is a genus of flies in the family Clusiidae. There are more than 70 described species in Heteromeringia.
