Major Group: Insecta
Order: Diptera
Family: Empididae |
Descriptive Features: head capsule incomplete (hemicephalic), often retracted into thorax, with some sclerotization visible and extruded from thorax
palps and antenna distinguishable
mandibles usually with hooked apical tooth and lacking inner teeth
metathoracic rods narrow throughout
abdomen 8-segmented
paired parapods on abdominal segments 1 - 7 or 1 - 8
posterior spiracles quite widely separated, not concealed on anal/pre-anal segment
anal segment frequently lobed
Total length: up to 5mm |
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Empididae |
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Taxonomic Checklist: Subfamilies Genera
Clinocerinae
Asymphyloptera quadriseta Smith
Clinocera 7 species
Empidinae
*Bandella 9 species
*Cunomyia unica Bickel
*Empis 17 species
*Eugowra 3 species
*Hilara 6 species
*Hilarempis 6 species
*Munburra bulbicornis Bickel
*Rhamphella inconspicua Malloch
*Rhamphomyia 3 species
*Thinempis 4 species
Hemerodromiinae
*Anaclastoctedon 2 species
*Ptilophyllodromia biroi Bezzi
*Sororsenexa macalpinei Plant
Microphorinae
*Microphor hiemalis White
*Microphorella iota Colless
*unsure if aquatic |
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Distribution: Australia wide
Sensitivity Rating: SIGNAL grade 5
Functional Feeding Group: predators |
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Edward River at 4 Posts YC Deniliquin, NSW |
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Ecology: Instream habitat: Larvae are usually found in mud and detritus or in algal mats and aquatic mosses in standing and flowing waters.
Feeding ecology: Both larvae and adults are predacious on other insects, mainly Diptera.
Habit:
Life history: Adult emergence occurs from August to October for most Australian species. Some genera, especially of the subfamily Empidinae, have an elaborate courtship display in which prey is used as an essential stimulus initiating copulation, giving rise to the common name of ‘dance-flies’. Swarms are usually connected to mating behaviour. |
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Information Sources: Ginn 2012, Sinclair 2003 & 2000b, Hawking & Smith 1997, Colless & McAlpine 1991, Merritt & Cummins 1996, Evenhuis 2007
Key to Subfamilies: none
Key to Genera: none
Key to Species: none |
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