Apiocera

Taxobox
name = "Apiocera"
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Arthropoda
subphylum = Hexapoda
classis = Insecta
subclassis = Pterygota
infraclassis = Neoptera
superordo = Endopterygota|
ordo = Diptera
subordo = Brachycera
infraordo = Asilomorpha
superfamilia = Asiloidea
familia = Apioceridae
genus = "Apiocera"
genus_authority = Westwood, 1835
subdivision_ranks = Species
subdivision = ~150 species

The Apioceridae, or flower-loving flies, are a small (approximately 150 species) family of flies, all in the single genus "Apiocera". They occur mostly in dry sandy habitats in the deserts of North America, South America, and Australia.

Biology

Apiocerids are found in sandy, arid and semiarid habitats. Hovering over bare patches of ground they can emit a loud hum. Despite the common name, most "Apiocera" never visit flowers, but rather are found running on the ground near sparse vegetation, or feeding on honeydew beneath aphid-infested plants. They are often seen drinking from damp sand with their sponge-like mouth-parts. The larvae of "Apiocera maritima" are found in sand near the high water mark of coastal beaches.

Literature

Identification
*Paramonov, S.J. 1953. A review of Australian Apioceridae (Diptera). "Aust. J. Zool". 1: 449-536. Key

Classification

Other genera formerly placed in Apioceridae are now in Mydidae. SeeYeates DK, Irwin ME. 1996. Apioceridae (Insecta: Diptera): Cladistics and biogeography. "Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society". 116: 247-301

External links

* [http://www.geocities.com/brisbane_flies/Apioceridae.htm Apioceridae from Brisbane]
* [http://www.mydidae.tdvia.de www.mydidae.tdvia.de] Website von Torsten Dikow (in English)
* [http://www.tdvia.de/pdf/tdikow_icd_mydidae_2006_web.pdf Torsten Dikow: New insight on the phylogenetic relationships within Mydidae and its relationship to Apioceridae]
* [http://esbc.harbour.com/Journal/journal2006/2006_55-60_Cannings.pdf Robert A. Cannings: A review of the distribution and natural history of "Apiocera barri" and "Nemomydas pantherinus"]