Chrysotus

Meigen, 1824

Species Guides

Chrysotus is a large of long-legged flies (Diptera: Dolichopodidae) in the Diaphorinae, with more than 460 described . The genus is taxonomically problematic and likely or polyphyletic with respect to related genera including Achradocera, Falbouria, and Lyroneurus. Species are distributed across multiple biogeographic regions including the Palaearctic, Nearctic, Oriental, and . The genus contains two subgenera: Angiopus (, containing only C. halteratus) and Chrysotus (containing all other species).

Chrysotus bellus by (c) Bill Keim, some rights reserved (CC BY). Used under a CC-BY license.

Chrysotus leucostoma by (c) Zachary Dankowicz, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Zachary Dankowicz. Used under a CC-BY license.

Chrysotus mundus by (c) Even Dankowicz, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Even Dankowicz. Used under a CC-BY license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Chrysotus: //ˈkrɪsəˌtʊs//

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Identification

Identification to level requires examination of male genitalia and other subtle morphological characters; the is characterized by features typical of Dolichopodidae including long legs and reduced wing venation. Species-level identification keys exist for regional faunas including Palaearctic China and the Nearctic region. The C. longipalpus species group is distinguished by distinctive palpal .

Images

Distribution

Widely distributed across multiple biogeographic regions. Documented from Palaearctic China, Bulgaria (West Rhodope Mountains and other mountain ranges), the Nearctic region (Florida, Alabama, South Dakota), and South America. GBIF records indicate presence in Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. Specific groups show restricted distributions: the C. leigongshanus group (59 species) and C. papuanus group (107 species) are concentrated in China; the C. mediotinctus group (5 species) is restricted to South America; the C. cilipes and C. laesus groups are Palaearctic and Oriental.

Human Relevance

One has been documented from soybean fields in South Dakota, suggesting potential relevance to agricultural , though specific pest or beneficial status is undetermined.

Similar Taxa

AchradoceraRelated ; Chrysotus is likely or polyphyletic with respect to Achradocera, indicating convergent or shared ancestral traits that complicate genus-level boundaries
FalbouriaRelated ; taxonomic boundaries with Chrysotus are unclear due to probable paraphyly of Chrysotus
LyroneurusRelated ; similarly implicated in the paraphyly/polyphyly problems of Chrysotus