Psychodinae | |
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Psychoda grisescens | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Insecta |
Order: | Diptera |
Family: | Psychodidae |
Subfamily: | Psychodinae Newman, 1834 [1] |
The Psychodinae are the nominate subfamily of moth flies (Psychodidae), also known as drain flies. Like most of their relatives, they are usually found in damp habitats; some occur in caves. The small larvae are aquatic or semi-terrestrial; the adults are winged and capable of flight. Psychodinae are found worldwide, [2] including some subantarctic islands. [3]
Adult Psychodinae are small flies that do not exceed 5–6 mm in length. Their body, legs and wings are covered in many setae which (in males) are often pigmented, resulting in colour patterns. Their eyes are usually reniform and connected dorsomedially by an eye-bridge. The antennae each consist of a scape, pedicel and 12-14 flagellomeres, and each flagellomere has one or more ascoids of variable shape. The wings are ovate in shape with 9-10 longitudinal veins and almost no crossveins. Species of Psychodinae often look similar, only being distinguishable by the shape of the male genitalia. [4]
Larval Psychodinae are segmented with each segment subdivided and each subdivision dorsally sclerotised. [5] The tergal sclerites have true and accessorial setae which are useful for determining species. [6] Unlike in other subfamilies of Psychodidae, the abdomen ends in a tubular siphon tipped with spiracles. [5]
The larval biology of Psychodinae has mainly been studied for Palearctic and Nearctic taxa, with less known about Afrotropical taxa. [6] Most are detritivores in marginal freshwater habitats such as the edges of springs and streams, waterlogged soils and phytotelmata. [6] They also occur in leaf litter, compost, decaying wood, fungal fruiting bodies, dung, carrion, caves, drains and sewage pipes. [2] [6] [7] A few species may cause myiasis. [6]
Pupation occurs on the surface of the organic film inhabited by larvae. [2]
Humans may encounter adult Psychodinae in bathrooms and sewage installations. Adults are drawn to artificial light. They feed on polluted water and the nectar of flowers. [2]
Males locate females using species-specific pheromones, and also produce pheromones themselves for courtship. Psychodid antennae have sensilla that may be used for detecting these pheromones. Many Psychodinae also have specialised secondary sexual characteristics for release and detection of chemical cues. They also use visual and tactile displays. [6]
Psychodidae, also called drain flies, sink flies, filter flies, sewer flies, or sewer gnats, is a family of true flies. Some genera have short, hairy bodies and wings, giving them a "furry" moth-like appearance, hence one of their common names, moth flies. Members of the sub-family Phlebotominae, which are hematophagous, may be called sand flies in some countries, although this term is also used for other unrelated flies.
Superfamily Tabanoidea are insects in the order Diptera.
Aphrosylus is a genus of flies in the family Dolichopodidae. All species are intertidal in habitat.
Cyphomyia is a genus of flies in the subfamily Clitellariinae.
Alloeodidicrum is a genus of drain flies in the subfamily Psychodinae. It consists of two species.
Chrysopsinae is an insect subfamily in the family Tabanidae commonly known as deer flies or sheep flies and are bloodsucking insects considered pests to humans and cattle. They are large flies with large brightly-coloured compound eyes, and large clear wings with dark bands. They are larger than the common housefly and smaller than the horse-fly.
Sycorax is a genus of moth flies and sand flies in the family Psychodidae. There are at least 40 described species in Sycorax.
Chelifera is a genus of flies in the family Empididae.
Feuerborniella is a genus of flies belonging to the family Psychodidae.
Philosepedon is a genus of flies belonging to the family Psychodidae.
Peripsychoda is a genus of flies belonging to the family Psychodidae.
Paramormia is a genus of flies belonging to the family Psychodidae.
Panimerus is a genus of flies belonging to the family Psychodidae.
Ulomyia is a genus of flies belonging to the family Psychodidae.
Laurenceomyia is a genus of moth flies in the subfamily Bruchomyiinae. Species have been recorded principally from south America, with many, including the type, transferred from the genus Nemopalpus.
Didicrum is a genus of the family Psychodidae and has a handful of species studied so far. The discovery of this genus in Colombia represents a significant range extension for Didicrum as all previously described species of this genus are distributed in the Australasian region and the southernmost portion of South America.
Rhinomyzini is a tribe of horse flies in the family Tabanidae.
Crossopalpus is a genus of flies in the family Hybotidae.