Tephritoidea

Classification

Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Hexapoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Diptera
Superfamily: Tephritoidea

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Tephritoidea: //tɛˌfɹɪˈtɔɪdiə//

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

Images

Flutter-wing Fly (31056906403) by Katja Schulz from Washington, D. C., USA. Used under a CC BY 2.0 license.

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

Palloptera muliebris (43858490762) by gailhampshire from Cradley, Malvern, U.K. Used under a CC BY 2.0 license.

Flutter-wing Fly (31821245685) by Katja Schulz from Washington, D. C., USA. Used under a CC BY 2.0 license.

Piophila casei by F.L. Washburn, Edith Reed, others. Used under a Public domain license.

Toxonevra muliebris 87814222 by Paul Braun. Used under a CC0 license.

Summary

Tephritoidea is a superfamily of flies with over 7,800 species, predominantly within the family Tephritidae. They are characterized by various morphological features and play significant roles in ecosystems as plant pests, parasitoids, and saprophages.

Physical Characteristics

Generally rather hairy flies with setae weakly differentiated. The anal cell of the wing has a characteristic shape with an indented anal crossvein and an acute lobe on the outer posterior angle. Many families exhibit spots or patterns on their wings.

Identification Tips

Look for characteristic wing features and body hair. Tephritidae, specifically, are identified as fruit flies, often with distinct wing patterns.

Habitat

Tephritoidea are found in diverse environments, often associated with plants, as many are pests of plants or feed on decaying material.

Distribution

Over 7,800 species are known, with 8 families present in the study area and additional exotic families worldwide.

Diet

Many are plant pests; adults lay eggs on plant tissues for larvae to feed on. Others include parasitoids and saprophages that feed on decaying plants.

Life Cycle

Life cycles typically involve egg-laying on plant tissues, with larvae that hatch and begin feeding on the host plant.

Reproduction

Females lay eggs on suitable host plants where larvae develop, often causing damage to the plant.

Ecosystem Role

Includes plant pests, parasitoids, and saprophages, illustrating diverse ecological interactions.

Economic Impact

Some species are significant agricultural pests, particularly in the family Tephritidae, affecting fruit crops.

Evolution

The first Tephritoidea are believed to have evolved in the mid-Paleocene, approximately 59 million years ago.