D I S C O V E R    L I F E   
Bee Hunt! Odonata Lepidoptera 
  HomeAll Living ThingsIDnature guidesGlobal mapperAlbumsLabelsSearch
  AboutNewsEventsResearchEducationProjectsStudy sitesHelp


Milichiidae
FREELOADER FLIES
Life   Insecta   Diptera

Desmometopa m-nigrum, probably, Misumena vatia, Apis mellifera
© John Pickering, 2004-2023 · 1
Desmometopa m-nigrum, probably, Misumena vatia, Apis mellifera

80x5 - 240x3 - 240x4 - 320x1 - 320x2 - 320x3 - 640x1 - 640x2
Set display option above.
Click on image to enlarge.
Desmometopa m-nigrum, probably, Misumena vatia, Apis mellifera
© John Pickering, 2004-2023 · 1
Desmometopa m-nigrum, probably, Misumena vatia, Apis mellifera
see all kinds   •  1 thumbnail  •  slide show
Overview
The Milichiidae (Diptera, Schizophora) are small, mostly black acalyptrate flies. The family contains about 240 described species in 19 genera and is worldwide in distribution.

The behavior of several species of Milichiidae is very specialized. For example, in some species the adults are myrmecophilous (= ant-loving), whilst in some others they are kleptoparasitic, feeding on the prey of spiders or predaceous insects.

The habitats of Milichiidae are diverse. Adults can be collected in open landscapes, such as steppes or meadows, in wadis, at the edges of forests, inside forests, in the forest canopy, in stables or houses, or even in caves. However, they do not seem to be attracted to coastal habitats or to other places near water.

The Milichiidae are divided into three subfamilies, Madizinae, Milichiinae, and Phyllomyzinae.


Photographs

Links to other sites

References
  • Eisner T, M Eisner, and M Deyrup. 1991. Chemical attraction of kleptoparasitic flies to heteropteran insects caught by orb-weaving spiders. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 88::8194-8197.

Acknowledgements
  • Irina Brake, Natural History Museum, London

Supported by
go to Discover Life's Facebook group

Updated: 2024-03-29 13:24:21 gmt
Discover Life | Top
© Designed by The Polistes Corporation