Stilt-legged flies

Definition

A family of small to medium-sized acalyptrate muscoid flies (Diptera: Micropezidae) distinguished by extraordinarily elongated, slender legs that give the insects a stilt-like appearance and wading gait. Adults are typically found on low vegetation, leaf litter, or rotting wood in tropical to temperate habitats, where they feed on decaying organic matter or prey on small arthropods. Larvae develop in decaying plant material, soil, or rotting fruit.

Etymology

From the distinctive elongated legs that resemble stilts, an adaptation for perching on vegetation and moving with a characteristic high-stepping gait.

Example

Members of the genus Micropeza are classic stilt-legged flies of the Holarctic region, often encountered waving their forelegs while walking on broad leaves.

Synonyms

• Micropezidae

Related Terms

• acalyptrate
• Diptera
• muscoid flies
• Micropeza
• Taeniaptera
• decaying organic matter
• leaf litter habitat

Usage Notes

The common name refers specifically to family Micropezidae, not to any fly with long legs; some dolichopodid flies (long-legged flies) are superficially similar but belong to a different family. The family is sometimes called 'stilt flies' in older literature, though this can cause confusion with the unrelated stilt bugs (family Berytidae, Hemiptera).