Neminidae

Definition

A family of small flies in the order Diptera. Members are typically slender, long-legged insects with reduced wing venation, often found in moist or riparian habitats where their larvae develop in decaying vegetation or damp soil.

Etymology

Example

Neminidae are frequently encountered in sweep samples from marshy margins, where they may be mistaken for empidid dance flies due to their similar gracile build.

Related Terms

• Diptera
• Empididae
• Brachycera
• Cyclorrhapha
• riverine habitat
• decaying organic matter

Usage Notes

Sometimes treated as a subfamily (Nemininae) within Empididae in older classifications; modern phylogenetic studies generally recognize Neminidae as a distinct family within the superfamily Empidoidea. Adults are weak fliers and often overlooked in standard Malaise trap samples.