Hybotidae Temporal range: | |
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Bicellaria spuria (Ocydromiinae: Bicellariini) | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Insecta |
Order: | Diptera |
Suborder: | Brachycera |
Infraorder: | Asilomorpha |
Superfamily: | Empidoidea |
Family: | Hybotidae Macquart, 1823 |
Subfamilies | |
Hybotidae, the typical dance flies, are a family of true flies. They belong to the superfamily Empidoidea and were formerly included in the Empididae as a subfamily.
Some, such as Tachydromia , are predators that run around on the bark of trees in complex patterns, hence the common name. Tachydromia species are only about three millimeters long.
Hybotidae share some similarities with the family Dolichopodidae, when looking at rotation of genitalia and wing characteristics. Male terminalia are rotated dextrally between 45° and 90°, excluding segment 7. Hybotidae wings always have a simple R4+5 vein, where the costa either ends near or at M1/M1+2, or near or at R4+5/R5. Furthermore, it can be distinguished from Dolichopodidae by the point of vein Rs, which it at a distance from the humeral crossvein (h) equal to or longer than the length of h. [1]
The Hybotidae clearly form a lineage quite distinct from the Empididae. Among the Empidoidea, they represent a lineage more basal than the main radiation of Empididae and Dolichopodidae, though they are not as ancient as the genera placed in the Atelestidae. [2] [3]
By and large, the Hybotidae are monophyletic. Among its subfamilies, the Hybotinae and Tachydromiinae certainly represent clades. The status of the Ocydromiinae as a natural group is less clear, in particular whether the Trichininae should be included as tribe Trichinini or even in the Bicellariini [4] or Oedaleini, [5] or whether they are more distinct and warrant recognition as a separate subfamily. [2]
Based on the most recent phylogenetic studies, [1] the relationship between Hybotidae and other members of Empidoidea is as follows. The placement of Hybotidae is emphasized in bold formatting.
Atelestidae | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The subfamilies with their tribes and selected genera are: [3] [6] [7]
Trichininae (often included in Ocydromiinae)
Incertae sedis
Trichina is a genus of flies in the family Hybotidae.
Tachydromia is a genus of hybotid flies. It is widespread around the world, with species found essentially everywhere except the polar regions and some remote islands. They are not very diverse in East and Southeast Asia, or in Africa
Atelestidae is a family of flies in the superfamily Empidoidea. The four genera were placed in a separate family in 1983; they were formerly either in Platypezidae or considered incertae sedis. While they are doubtless the most basal of the living Empidoidea, the monophyly of the family is not fully proven. The genus Nemedina seems to represent a most ancient lineage among the entire superfamily, while Meghyperus is probably not monophyletic in its present delimitation, and it is liable to be split up eventually, with some species being placed elsewhere. In 2010, the genus Alavesia, previously only known from Cretaceous fossils, was found alive in Namibia, subsequent species were also described from Brazil.
Tachydromiinae is a subfamily of hybotid flies widespread in the world.
Ocydromia is a genus of flies in the family Hybotidae.
Ocydromiinae is a subfamily of hybotid flies.
Drapetini is a tribe of hybotid flies widespread in the world. There are 19 currently recognised genera. See the Wikispecies link below for details.
Chersodromia is a genus of flies in the family Hybotidae.
Microphor is a genus of flies in the family Dolichopodidae, subfamily Microphorinae.
Microphorella is a genus of flies in the family Dolichopodidae. It is currently considered both paraphyletic and polyphyletic, and several species groups may need to be recognised as subgenera or genera.
Bicellaria is a genus of flies in the family Hybotidae.
Drapetis is a genus of flies in the family Hybotidae.
Oedalea is a genus of flies in the family Hybotidae.
Tachypeza is a genus of flies in the family Hybotidae.
Ocydromiini is a tribe of hybotid flies.
Crossopalpus is a genus of flies in the family Hybotidae.
Stilpon is a genus of flies in the family Hybotidae.
Dysaletria is a genus of flies in the family Hybotidae.
Trichininae is a subfamily of hybotid flies.