Australian-endemism
Guides
Apioceridae
Flower-loving Flies
Apioceridae, commonly known as flower-loving flies, is a family of true flies (Diptera) comprising approximately 150 species. The family was historically considered to contain multiple genera, but taxonomic revision has restricted it to the single genus Apiocera. Members are notable for their strong, fast flight and association with flowers. The family exhibits a disjunct distribution across arid regions of North America, South America, and Australia, with the Australian fauna being the most diverse globally. Adults are active primarily in spring and summer, with midday activity in hot, sunny conditions. Larvae develop in sandy soils.
Cicadettinae
Largeclasper Cicadas
Cicadettinae is a large subfamily of cicadas containing approximately 230 genera and 1,200 described species. Members are distributed globally across diverse habitats including eucalypt forests, grasslands, arid regions, and tropical woodlands. Male calling songs are species-specific and function in mate recognition; song structures vary from simple ticking or clicking to complex multi-element compositions. Many species are small to medium-sized and exhibit cryptic behavior, often remaining inconspicuous in vegetation.
Colletidae
plasterer bees, polyester bees, cellophane bees
Colletidae is a family of solitary bees comprising over 2,000 species across 54 genera and five subfamilies. Members are commonly called plasterer bees or polyester bees due to their distinctive nest cell linings: females apply oral and abdominal secretions that dry into a cellophane-like, waterproof polyester membrane. The family exhibits exceptional diversity in Australia and South America, with over 50% of Australian bee species belonging to this family. Two subfamilies, Euryglossinae and Hylaeinae, uniquely lack external pollen-carrying structures (scopa) and instead transport pollen internally in their crops, feeding larvae with liquid or semiliquid pollen masses. Most species are solitary ground-nesters, though many form dense aggregations, and some exhibit crepuscular activity with enlarged ocelli.
Gymnochthebius
minute moss beetles
Gymnochthebius is a genus of minute moss beetles in the family Hydraenidae, containing more than 60 described species. The genus is particularly diverse in Australia and Papua New Guinea, where 36 species have been documented. These small water beetles inhabit marginal zones of aquatic habitats and show microhabitat specialization correlated with morphological adaptations.