Steganinae

Classification

Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Hexapoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Diptera
Superfamily: Ephydroidea
Family: Drosophilidae
Subfamily: Steganinae

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Steganinae: //stɛˈɡænɪniː//

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

Images

Cacoxenus indagator (49771393037) by Gilles San Martin from Namur, Belgium. Used under a CC BY-SA 2.0 license.

Drosophilid Fly - Flickr - treegrow (10) by Katja Schulz from Washington, D. C., USA. Used under a CC BY 2.0 license.

Drosophilid Fly - Flickr - treegrow (9) by Katja Schulz from Washington, D. C., USA. Used under a CC BY 2.0 license.

Little drosophilid hiding under a leaf (29296131591) by Katja Schulz from Washington, D. C., USA. Used under a CC BY 2.0 license.

Drosophilid Fly - Flickr - treegrow (6) by Katja Schulz from Washington, D. C., USA. Used under a CC BY 2.0 license.

Drosophilid Fly - Flickr - treegrow (5) by Katja Schulz from Washington, D. C., USA. Used under a CC BY 2.0 license.

Summary

The Steganinae is one of two subfamilies within the Drosophilidae family, characterized by distinct bristle patterns and a diverse phylogenetic structure that remains partially unresolved. It includes various tribes and genera, primarily classified based on traditional morphological characteristics with molecular studies pending confirmation.

Physical Characteristics

Prescutellar acrostichals conspicuous, basal scutellar bristles diverging.

Identification Tips

Can be identified by the unique arrangement of bristles, particularly the conspicuous prescutellar acrostichals and diverging basal scutellar bristles.

Distribution

Primarily found in the Southwest, particularly known from areas associated with the subgenus Drosophila (Scaptodrosophila).

Evolution

The subfamily is monophyletic and has evolved distinguishing characteristics independently from the Drosophilinae subfamily.

Similar Taxa

Drosophilinae

Misconceptions

There is no single morphological character that distinguishes Steganinae from Drosophilinae, leading to potential confusion in classification.