Tanypezidae

Taxobox
name = Tanypezidae


image_caption =
image_width= 240px
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Arthropoda
classis = Insecta
subclassis = Pterygota
infraclassis = Neoptera
superordo = Endopterygota|
ordo = Diptera
subordo = Brachycera
infraordo = Muscomorpha
zoosectio = Schizophora
zoosubsectio = Acalyptratae
superfamilia = Diopsoidea
familia = Tanypezidae
subdivision_ranks = Genera
subdivision = *"Neotanypeza"
*"Tanypeza"
*"Scipopeza"
*"Polphopeza"
*"Tripolphopeza"
*"Tritanypeza"

Tanypezidae is a small family of medium-sized true flies (Diptera) found in the Nearctic Palaearctic and Neotropic zoogeographic regions. Some species have luminous silver or gold coloration.

Taxonomy

There are about 21 species of Tanypezids in six genera. The genera can be seen in the box to the right. "Polphopeza", "Tripolphopeza", and "Tritanypeza" were all described by Enderlein as subgenera of "Neotanypeza", but some authorities treat them as distinct genera. Two somewhat common species are "Neotanypeza elegans" (Wiedemann, 1830) and "Tanypeza longimana" Fallén, 1820

Biology

Very little is known about the biology of the family. Tanypezids can be found in damp forests.

Family Description

These flies are 5 to 7 mm long, slender and long-legged and sometimes withpatches of metallic tomentum on the body. See [http://delta-intkey.com/britin/dip/www/tanypezi.htm]

External links

* [http://www.cedarcreek.umn.edu/insects/album/029053001ap.html Picture of a "Tanypeza sp."]