Mycetophilidae

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Mycetophilidae
Exechia spinuligera, Trawscoed, North Wales, Dec 2015 - Flickr - janetgraham84.jpg
Exechia spinuligera
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Diptera
Infraorder: Bibionomorpha
Superfamily: Sciaroidea
Family: Mycetophilidae
Newman, 1834
Subfamilies
Diversity
ca. 150 genera
Fossil in Baltic amber Baltic Amber.jpg
Fossil in Baltic amber

Mycetophilidae is a family of small flies, forming the bulk of those species known as fungus gnats. About 3000 described species are placed in 150 genera, but the true number of species is undoubtedly much higher. They are generally found in the damp habitats favoured by their host fungi and sometimes form dense swarms. [1]

Contents

Adults of this family can usually be separated from other small flies by the strongly humped thorax, well-developed coxae, and often spinose legs, but identification within the family between genera and species generally requires close study of microscopic features such as subtle differences in wing venation and variation in chaetotaxy and genitalia. The terrestrial larvae usually feed on fungi, especially the fruiting bodies, but also spores and hyphae, but some species have been recorded on mosses and liverworts. The larvae of some species, while still being associated with fungi, are at least partly predatory. Some species are attracted to the fungus smell of Jack-in-the-Pulpit, fall into their inflorescences and accomplish their pollination.

Description

Adult Mycetophilidae sometimes gather in great numbers in various hiding places, under tree roots and holes, and in general they are the most common insects in our forests. However, due to their small size and inconspicuous coloration, they are rarely known or noticed. On the other hand, the larvae of mushroom eaters are known to all, since they form the main population of mushrooms with worms. In addition to the fruiting bodies of cap mushrooms, they also inhabit wood fungi and can be found under the bark of decaying trees. The diet of most larvae is exclusively fungal, but some members of this family are predators. [2] Adults do not cause damage to plants, but lay 2 small eggs on the surface of moist soil (5–8 cm). Larvae, translucent, legless worms with a black "head" measuring 8–10 mm, later emerge from the eggs. The mouthparts are gnawing. The larvae usually develop in soil on decaying plant tissue. However, under indoor conditions they often lack feeding substratum, so they gnaw at tender young roots and underground shoots of plants. This is the main hazard. The occurrence of large numbers of fungal mosquitoes in the garden will lead to an exponential increase in larval numbers, which in turn will result in root damage that leads to yellowing of leaves, loss of energy to the plant and often a significant reduction in garden productivity.

The larvae can also be carriers of diseases that infect plants, in some cases resulting in a total loss of crops. [3] Although fungus mosquitoes are generally more of an annoyance than a threat, their presence should be taken seriously and measures to control and eliminate this pest should be started as soon as possible after detection.

Bioluminescence

Around a dozen mycetophilid species are unique among flies in displaying bioluminescence. [4] In some species, this is restricted to the larval stage, but in others this feature is retained by the pupae and adults. The ability to produce their own light may be used by some predatory larvae as a lure for potential prey, although it also obviously makes them more susceptible to predation or parasitism. These are not mycetophilids sensu stricto , but belong to the family Keroplatidae.

Fossil record

Mycetophilids, including some extant genera, are well represented in amber deposits and the group appears to have been well established and diversified by the Cretaceous period at the latest.

Taxonomy

Some 800 species (including some of the bioluminescent species) were split into a separate family by Tuomikoski (1966), Keroplatidae. This split is not universally recognized as yet, and many sources still include the keroplatid genera within the Mycetophilidae. Other recent families, included here in Mycetophilidae as they are not recognized by all workers are Ditomyiidae, Lygistorrhinidae, Diadocidiidae, and Rangomaramidae. The Mycetophilidae sensu lato contain about 330 described genera. These include: [1] [5] [6]

Catalogues

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bibionomorpha</span> Infraorder of flies

The Bibionomorpha are an infraorder of the suborder Nematocera. One of its constituent families, the Anisopodidae, is the presumed sister taxon to the entire suborder Brachycera. Several of the remaining families in the infraorder are former subfamilies of the Mycetophilidae, which has been recently subdivided. The family Axymyiidae has recently been removed from the Bibionomorpha to its own infraorder Axymyiomorpha.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nematocera</span> Suborder of flies

The Nematocera are a suborder of elongated flies with thin, segmented antennae and mostly aquatic larvae. This group is paraphyletic and contains all flies but species from suborder Brachycera, which includes more commonly known species such as the housefly or the common fruit fly. Families in Nematocera include mosquitoes, crane flies, gnats, black flies, and multiple families commonly known as midges. The Nematocera typically have fairly long, fine, finely-jointed antennae. In many species, such as most mosquitoes, the female antennae are more or less threadlike, but the males have spectacularly plumose antennae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sciaroidea</span> Superfamily of flies

Sciaroidea is a superfamily in the infraorder Bibionomorpha. There are about 16 families and more than 15,000 described species in Sciaroidea. Most of its constituent families are various gnats.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Diadocidiidae</span> Family of flies

The Diadocidiidae are a family of flies (Diptera), containing one extant genus with over 20 species and one extinct genus. Diadocidiidae are found worldwide, except in Africa and Antarctica. They are usually considered close to the Keroplatidae, Bolitophilidae, and Ditomyiidae, and used to be included in the Mycetophilidae. They are woodland flies, found in shaded places in forests or near streams. The larvae spin silken tubes under bark or in dead logs, and feed on hymenium of Polyporaceae fungi. The average body length for adults is around 2.5–5.6 mm.

<i>Bolitophila</i> Genus of flies

Bolitophila is the sole living genus in the Bolitophilidae, a family of Diptera in the superfamily Sciaroidea, with around 40 Palaearctic and about 20 Nearctic species, and three species from the Oriental region (Taiwan). They are small (6–9 mm).

Gnoristinae is a subfamily of fungus gnats in the family Mycetophilidae. There are about 6 genera and at least 4 described species in Gnoristinae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lygistorrhininae</span> Family of gnats

Lygistorrhininae, commonly called long-beaked fungus gnats is a subfamily of flies in the Diptera family Keroplatidae. The groups was long treated as a separate family, but molecular phylogenetic analysis has shown it to belong to Keroplatidae. There are about 7 genera and at least 30 described species in Lygistorrhininae.

<i>Zygomyia</i> Genus of flies

Zygomyia is a genus of fungus gnats in the family Mycetophilidae. There are at least 80 described species in Zygomyia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mycetophilinae</span> Subfamily of insects

Mycetophilinae is a subfamily of fungus gnats in the family Mycetophilidae. There are more than 30 genera and 2,000 described species in Mycetophilinae. There are two tribes, Exechiini and Mycetophilini.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Exechiini</span> Tribe of flies

Exechiini is a tribe of fungus gnats in the family Mycetophilidae. There are about 13 genera and at least 130 described species in Exechiini.

Eudicrana is a genus of fungus gnats in the family Mycetophilidae. There are about 13 described species in Eudicrana.

Lygistorrhina is a genus of long-beaked fungus gnats in the family Lygistorrhinidae. There are at least 20 described species in Lygistorrhina.

<i>Cordyla</i> (fly) Genus of flies

Cordyla is a genus of fungus gnats in the family Mycetophilidae. There are at least 30 described species in Cordyla.

Ectrepesthoneura is a genus of fungus gnats in the family Mycetophilidae. There are more than 20 described species in Ectrepesthoneura.

Nervijuncta is a genus of fungus gnats in the family Ditomyiidae.

<i>Exechiopsis</i> Genus of flies

Exechiopsis is a genus of fungus gnats in the family Mycetophilidae.

<i>Allodiopsis</i> Genus of flies

Allodiopsis is a genus of fungus gnats belonging to the family Mycetophilidae.

References

  1. 1 2 Loïc Matile (1999-09-20). "10. Family Mycetophylidae". Australasian/Oceanian Diptera Catalog — Web Version.
  2. ↑ "Mycetophilidae". sciencedirect.com. Retrieved 2022-10-29.
  3. ↑ "Pollination by fungus gnats and associated floral characteristics in five families of the Japanese flora". academic.oup.com. Retrieved 2022-10-29.
  4. ↑ John M. Sivinski (1998). "Phototropism, bioluminescence and the Diptera" (PDF). Florida Entomologist . The Florida Entomologist, Vol. 81, No. 3. 81 (3): 282–292. doi: 10.2307/3495919 . JSTOR   3495919.
  5. ↑ "Mycetophilidae". Fauna Europaea. 2004. Archived from the original on December 23, 2005.
  6. ↑ "Nomina - Diptera: M-P". Nearctica. 1998. Archived from the original on 2011-01-14.
  7. 1 2 Meunier, F. (1904). "Monographie des Cecidomyidae, des Sciaridae, des Mycetophilidae et des Chironomidae de l'ambre de la Baltique". Ann.Soc. Sci. Brux. (Mem.). 28: 12–92, 93–275.
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