Odiniidae

Classification

Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Hexapoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Diptera
Superfamily: Opomyzoidea
Family: Odiniidae

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Odiniidae: //oʊˈdɪni.aɪdiː//

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

Images

Traginops irroratus P1250520a by
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Traginops P1080064a by
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Traginops irroratus P1540263a by
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Traginops P1080174a by
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Traginops P1550315a by
xpda. Used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.

Traginops P1080118a by
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Summary

Odiniidae is a small family of flies known primarily for their patterned wings and larvae that interact with wood-boring insects. There are about 58 described species, some of which have a defined ecological role as scavengers or predators within their habitats. Most species lack detailed biological documentation.

Physical Characteristics

Odiniidae are characterized by patterned wings and exhibit specific arrangements of frontoorbital setae; there are 2 reclinate pairs and 1 inclinate pair of these setae in adults.

Identification Tips

To identify Odiniidae, examine the wing patterns and the arrangement of frontoorbital setae; reference keys are available in scientific literature for different geographic regions.

Habitat

Adults of Odiniidae are often found on sap or fungi, while larvae are associated with dying trees, living in the tunnels of wood-boring larvae of other insects.

Distribution

Odiniidae have representatives in all major biogeographic realms, with 58 described species.

Diet

Odiniid larvae are scavengers or predators, primarily feeding on the host larvae of Coleoptera, Lepidoptera, and other Diptera.

Life Cycle

Life histories are known for very few species, and overall biological information is limited for the family.

Reproduction

Details about the reproduction of Odiniidae are largely unknown due to insufficient biological data on most species.

Ecosystem Role

As scavengers or predators in decaying wood, Odiniidae contribute to organic material recycling and can impact other insect populations.

Evolution

Odiniidae is a small family of flies within the superfamily Opomyzoidea, with evolutionary information mostly derived from their ecological roles and relationships with other insects, but detailed evolutionary history is not extensively documented.

Similar Taxa

Opomyzoidea