Opomyzoidea

Family Guides

Agromyzidae(leaf-miner flies)
Anthomyzidae(Anthomyzid Flies)
Asteiidae(Fine Flies)
Aulacigastridae(Sap Flies)
Clusiidae(druid flies)
Odiniidae
Opomyzidae(Grass Flies)
Periscelididae(Dwarf Flies)

Opomyzoidea is a superfamily of Diptera comprising approximately 11 with diverse ecological specializations. Member families exhibit varied lifestyles including leaf mining (Agromyzidae), stem feeding in grasses (Anthomyzidae, Opomyzidae), gall formation (Fergusonina), fungal feeding (some Anthomyzidae, Asteiidae), sap feeding on trees (some Aulacigastridae, Odiniidae, Periscelididae), association with wood-boring insect galleries (Odiniidae), and inhabitation of water-filled plant cavities called phytotelmata (Aulacigastridae, , Periscelididae). The of this group remains controversial, with molecular studies indicating it may not be monophyletic.

Damaeus by (c) Alexis Tinker-Tsavalas, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Alexis Tinker-Tsavalas. Used under a CC-BY license.

Epidermoptidae by (c) Cricket Raspet, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Cricket Raspet. Used under a CC-BY license.

Psoroptidae by (c) Oleksii Vasyliuk, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Oleksii Vasyliuk. Used under a CC-BY license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Opomyzoidea: /ˌoʊpɵmɪˈzoʊɪdiə/

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

Identification

Identification to superfamily level requires examination of and larval morphological characters specific to constituent . No single diagnostic character set defines Opomyzoidea; assignment relies on family-level features and exclusion from other schizophoran superfamilies.

Images

Habitat

are highly variable across and include: leaf tissues of plants (Agromyzidae), grass stems (Anthomyzidae, Opomyzidae), plant galls (Fergusonina), fungal substrates (some Anthomyzidae, Asteiidae), sap flows on trees (some Aulacigastridae, Odiniidae, Periscelididae), galleries of wood-boring insects (Odiniidae), and water-filled plant cavities or phytotelmata (Aulacigastridae, , Periscelididae).

Distribution

Worldwide distribution with constituent recorded across multiple biogeographic regions. Documented from Central Europe (Slovakia, Czech Republic, Germany, Poland), South America (Chile, Brazil), and other regions. Specific distribution varies by family.

Similar Taxa

TephritoideaBoth are superfamilies of schizophoran Diptera; distinguished by composition and larval . has been variously placed in Opomyzoidea or Tephritoidea, reflecting phylogenetic uncertainty.
MuscoideaAnother superfamily of ; Opomyzoidea generally lack the well-developed prestomal teeth and other muscoid synapomorphies.