Empidoidea
Guides
Atelestidae
Atelestidae is a small family of flies in the superfamily Empidoidea, comprising approximately four extant genera. The family was formally established in 1983, having previously been classified within Platypezidae or as incertae sedis. Phylogenetic studies indicate Atelestidae represents the sister group to all other living Empidoidea, making it the most basal lineage of this diverse superfamily. The family includes both extant and fossil taxa, with the genus Alavesia known from Cretaceous amber and discovered alive in Namibia in 2010. The monophyly of the family remains incompletely resolved, with the genus Meghyperus likely requiring taxonomic revision.
Ceratempis
Ceratempis is a genus of dance flies (Diptera: Brachystomatidae) established by Melander in 1928. The genus contains a single described species, Ceratempis longicornis. Members of this genus belong to the subfamily Trichopezinae, a group characterized by distinctive wing venation and predatory habits. The genus remains poorly known, with limited published information on its biology and ecology.
Dolichopodidae
long-legged flies, longlegged flies
Dolichopodidae, the long-legged flies, is a large cosmopolitan family of true flies (Diptera) comprising over 8,000 described species in approximately 250 genera. Members are typically small (1–10 mm), often metallic green, blue, or bronze, with characteristically long and slender legs. Adults are predominantly predatory on small invertebrates. The family is particularly diverse in North America, with nearly 60 genera and about 1,300 species. Many species inhabit moist environments near water margins, though others occupy terrestrial habitats including tree trunks and foliage.
Drapetis
Drapetis is a genus of dance flies in the family Hybotidae, first described by Meigen in 1822. The genus contains over 200 described species distributed across multiple continents. Members of this genus are small to minute predatory flies, typically found in damp or shaded habitats. The genus is taxonomically well-established but individual species remain poorly studied biologically.
Hybotidae
typical dance flies, hybotid dance flies
Hybotidae is a family of small predatory flies within the superfamily Empidoidea, comprising over 1,600 described species worldwide. Formerly treated as a subfamily of Empididae, Hybotidae is now recognized as a distinct family based on morphological and phylogenetic evidence. Adults are generally predatory on small invertebrates, while larvae occupy diverse microhabitats including leaf litter, dung, fungi, roots, and aquatic or semiaquatic environments. The family exhibits notable morphological diversity, with some species displaying specialized leg modifications for prey capture and mating.
Meghyperus
Meghyperus is a genus of small flies in the family Atelestidae, established by Loew in 1850. These flies belong to the Empidoidea superfamily, a diverse group of predatory or scavenging flies. The genus is poorly studied and appears to contain few described species. Records indicate presence in northern Europe.
Microphorinae
Microphorinae is a subfamily of flies currently classified within Dolichopodidae (sensu lato), though historically treated as a separate family or subfamily of Empididae. The subfamily contains seven genera: two extant (Microphor and Schistostoma) and five extinct genera known from Cretaceous and Eocene amber deposits. The Nearctic fauna includes 33 species across both extant genera, with Schistostoma being notably diverse. Extinct species in Microphorites exhibit remarkable leg modifications suggesting complex behavioral adaptations.
Ocydromiinae
Ocydromiinae is a subfamily of dance flies within the family Hybotidae (Diptera: Empidoidea). The subfamily comprises two recognized tribes: Ocydromiini and Bicellariini. It includes approximately 13 genera with distributions spanning the Neotropical, Australasian, and New Zealand regions. Several genera are endemic to restricted geographic areas, including Pseudoscelolabes and Austropeza in New Zealand, and Leptodromia in Australia. Taxonomic revisions have been published for multiple genera, indicating ongoing systematic research but limited ecological study.
Tachydromiinae
Tachydromiinae is a subfamily of Hybotidae (Diptera) comprising small predatory flies. Members are generally 1–2 mm in length and exhibit fast-running behavior on vegetation and other surfaces. The subfamily is globally distributed with notable disjunct patterns, including genera found in both southern Africa and Central Asia. Three tribes are recognized: Symballophthalmini, Drapetini, and Tachydromiini.