Microphor
Macquart, 1827
Species Guides
1Microphor is a of small to very small flies in the Dolichopodidae, Microphorinae. The genus contains at least 16 extant distributed across the Palaearctic, Oriental, Nearctic, and potentially . Females exhibit kleptoparasitic , stealing tiny prey from spider webs. The genus is characterized by specific morphological traits including without ommatrichia, a scutellum with three or more pairs of setae, and distinctive wing venation.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Microphor: /ˈmaɪkroʊfɔr/
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Identification
Distinguished from related by combination of: without ommatrichia; scutellum with three or more pairs of setae; unmodified mid legs; wing with dm present and three branches; well-developed right-angled anal lobe; hypandrium with medial cleft and hook-shaped right postgonite lobe. Males of Palaearctic can be keyed using genitalic characters. Previously included species now assigned to Schistostoma, Euthyneura, Bicellaria, Iteaphila, and Anthalia based on revised classification.
Appearance
Small to very small true flies. without ommatrichia. Scutellum with three or more pairs of setae. Mid legs unmodified. Body setae dark. Wing with dm present and emitting three branches; well-developed right-angled anal lobe. Male genitalia with hypandrium bearing medial cleft and hook-shaped right postgonite lobe.
Habitat
Forest at low elevations (30 m), pastures (6 m elevation), and salty meadows. Collected by sweeping vegetation and using water pan traps.
Distribution
Palaearctic realm (nine : Switzerland, Turkey, France, Spain, Italy, Portugal, Bulgaria, Scandinavia); (one species); (five species); potential undescribed species in sub-Mediterranean Europe, Turkey, and . Fossil species also described. Records from Denmark, Norway, and Sweden confirmed.
Diet
Tiny prey stolen from spider webs; kleptoparasitic feeding strategy
Host Associations
- spider webs - kleptoparasiteFemales steal captured prey from spider webs
Behavior
Females exhibit kleptoparasitic , actively stealing tiny prey items from spider webs. Collection methods include sweeping vegetation and water pan trapping, suggesting ground-level or low vegetation activity.
Ecological Role
Kleptoparasite in spider web ; specific ecosystem role otherwise undocumented
Similar Taxa
- SchistostomaFormerly included of Microphor; distinguished by revised generic classification based on morphological characters
- EuthyneuraFormer Microphorus transferred based on taxonomic revision
- BicellariaFormer Microphorus drapetoides transferred to this
- IteaphilaFormer Microphorus transferred based on revised classification
- AnthaliaFormer Microphorus gilvihirta transferred to this
More Details
Taxonomic instability
The has undergone substantial taxonomic revision, with numerous transferred to Schistostoma and other genera. One Australasian species, Microphor hiemalis, may not be cogeneric and its placement in Microphorinae is questioned.
Undescribed diversity
Several undescribed species are known from the sub-Mediterranean region of Europe and Turkey, plus one from the , indicating substantial unrecognized diversity in the .
Family placement note
NCBI places Microphor in Empididae rather than Dolichopodidae; this appears to reflect an alternative classification scheme as most sources place it in Dolichopodidae: Microphorinae.