Ulidiinae

Tribe Guides

Lipsanini
Seiopterini
Ulidiini(picture-winged flies)

The Ulidiinae are a of picture-winged flies within the Ulidiidae. They are distinguished from similar groups by wing venation, particularly an elongated projection of the anal shared with Tephritidae but with a smoothly curving subcostal . The subfamily contains four tribes (Lipsanini, Pterocallini, Seiopterini, Ulidiini) and numerous distributed globally. Most are dull gray to shiny brown or black in coloration.

Physiphora clausa by (c) Bruno Henrique Aranda, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Bruno Henrique Aranda. Used under a CC-BY license.

Physiphora alceae by (c) Katja Schulz, some rights reserved (CC BY). Used under a CC-BY license.

Ulidiini by (c) Katja Schulz, some rights reserved (CC BY). Used under a CC-BY license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Ulidiinae: //juːˈlɪ.di.aɪˌniː//

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

Identification

Differentiated from Tephritidae by the smoothly curving subcostal (Tephritidae have angular or interrupted subcostal). Distinguished from other Ulidiidae by the combination of anal projection and wing venation pattern. Tribe Ulidiini are mainly blackish-brown with some metallic sheen, though several species are predominantly yellowish.

Images

Habitat

Diverse; includes rotting tissues of palms, giant Euphorbia, baobabs, and poplars; roots of dying old plants of black saxaul; associated with decomposing wood containing coleopteran larvae; some attracted to ungulate

Distribution

Global distribution with regional variation: predominantly Afrotropical for Physiphora; first records of Timia and Ulidia from Saudi Arabia represent Arabian Peninsula expansions; some subcosmopolitan through human introduction (e.g., Physiphora alceae, P. clausa introduced to Australasian, Nearctic, and Neotropical Regions)

Diet

Saprophagous; larvae associated with rotting plant tissues. Based on cephalopharyngeal skeleton in Timia. Some possibly , attracted to and possibly developing in ungulate

Host Associations

palms - larvae associated with rotting tissues, apparently infested by palm weevils
giant Euphorbia - larvae associated with rotting tissues
baobabs - larvae associated with rotting tissues
poplars - larvae associated with rotting tissues
black saxaul - larvae inhabit roots of dying old plantsHaloxylon aphyllum or related ; co-occurs with decomposing wood coleopteran larvae

Life Cycle

Larval stage inhabits specific plant substrates (roots of dying plants, rotting tissues); stage present; stages distinguished by anal plate structure and furrow shape on second and terminal puparium segments in Timia

Behavior

Some attracted to ungulate ; larvae co-occur with actively decomposing wood coleopteran larvae, though nature of interaction unspecified

Ecological Role

Saprophagous decomposers in plant root systems and rotting tissues; contributes to breakdown of dying plant material

Human Relevance

Some unintentionally introduced to new regions through human activity, becoming subcosmopolitan

Similar Taxa

TephritidaeShares elongated projection of anal in wing, but distinguished by smoothly curving subcostal versus angular or interrupted subcostal in Tephritidae
OtitinaeSimilar within Ulidiidae with herbivorous or saprophagous habits, but distinguished by wing venation characteristics

More Details

Tribal classification

Contains four tribes: Lipsanini (largest, with including Euxesta, Chaetopsis, Notogramma), Pterocallini, Seiopterini (including Seioptera, Homalocephala), and Ulidiini (three Old World genera: Physiphora, Timia, Ulidia)

Genus Physiphora

Includes at least 29 , predominantly Afrotropical; 12 new species described from Afrotropical Region in 2016 revision

First Arabian records

Timia and Ulidia first recorded from Saudi Arabia in 2025, completing the representation of all three Old World Ulidiini genera in the country