BRACHYCERA, Muscomorpha Schizophora Acalyptratae, Sciomyzoidea

Number of British species: 2

Size: M

Difficulty: 1

Scheme: Covered by the Sciomyzid-recording-scheme

Small to large (3-11 mm), yellowish brown to brown coloured, slender flies with brownish tinged wings. Arista pubescent; ocelli present; Ocellar bristles present; Postvertical bristles diverging; 2 pairs of frontal bristles, curving backward; interfrontal bristles absent; vibrissae absent. Wing tinged brown, without markings; costa continuous; vein Sc complete, crossvein BM-Cu present; cell cup closed. Tibiae with dorsal preapical bristle.

One species in this small family is known to be a para�sitoid of Diplopoda (millipedes) of the genus Ommatoiulus. The female deposits her eggs on the millipede after which the young larva enters its host. Usually only one larva per millipede will emerge. The host remains alive until the larva is fully grown and pupates in the host which, by that time, is no more than an empty shell.

Ball & McLean (1986), Rozkośný (1984), Rozkośný (1987)