Diverse-ecology
Guides
Opomyzoidea
Opomyzoidea is a superfamily of Diptera comprising approximately 11 families 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, Neurochaetidae, Periscelididae). The phylogeny of this group remains controversial, with molecular studies indicating it may not be monophyletic.
Staphylinidae
Rove beetles
Staphylinidae, the rove beetles, is the largest extant family of beetles with approximately 63,000 described species across thousands of genera. Members are distinguished by abbreviated elytra that expose most of the abdomen, giving them a characteristic elongated, flexible appearance. The family is ancient, with fossil records dating to the Triassic period approximately 200 million years ago. Ecological roles within the family are diverse, encompassing predation, fungivory, myrmecophily, and saprophagy.