Fucellia

Robineau-Desvoidy, 1842

seaweed flies

Species Guides

Fucellia is a of true flies (Diptera) in the Anthomyiidae, commonly known as seaweed flies. The genus comprises at least 20 described that inhabit marine and coastal environments, particularly in association with seaweed. Several species have been studied for their potential use in aquaculture feed due to their profiles and protein content.

Fucellia thinobia by (c) Liren Varghese, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Liren Varghese. Used under a CC-BY license.

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

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Fucellia: /fjuˈsɛliə/

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Images

Habitat

Marine and coastal saline , including intertidal zones and brackish coastal areas. are closely associated with seaweed substrates, including brown seaweed (Fucus spp.), green seaweed (Ulva spp.), and red seaweed.

Distribution

Europe: recorded from the Polish Baltic coast, Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. The appears to have a primarily northern European coastal distribution, though exact range limits are not well documented.

Host Associations

Aleochara sulcicollis - Rove beetle (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) that parasitizes Fucellia rufitibia

Life Cycle

Complete (holometabolous) with , larval, pupal, and stages. Laboratory rearing studies indicate development can occur on multiple seaweed substrates, with Fucus sp. supporting higher rates of completed compared to fish processing waste or non-marine substrates.

Ecological Role

Serves as prey and for insects in intertidal . Larvae contribute to nutrient cycling in coastal marine through decomposition of seaweed material.

Human Relevance

Fucellia maritima has been investigated as a potential alternative protein source for marine aquafeeds. Wild-caught contain 55-57% protein and 10-13% lipid content. The can accumulate docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6 n-3) when reared on fish processing waste, addressing a nutritional gap in terrestrial insect meals.