Hawaiian-endemics
Guides
Asteiidae
Fine Flies
Asteiidae is a small family of acalyptrate flies comprising approximately 130 species in 10 genera worldwide. Adults are minute to small (1–3 mm), delicate flies with thin bodies and relatively long, transparent wings. The family is rarely collected, likely due to their small size and inconspicuous habits. Most species are found in forested habitats, with adults often observed on flowers, low vegetation, and fungi.
Hylaeus
Masked Bees, Yellow-faced Bees
Hylaeus is a large, diverse genus of solitary bees in the family Colletidae, commonly known as masked bees or yellow-faced bees. The genus contains over 500 species with cosmopolitan distribution, reaching peak diversity in subtropical Australia and the Hawaiian Islands. These bees are distinguished by their nearly hairless, wasp-like appearance and unique method of transporting nectar and pollen internally in a crop rather than externally on body hairs. Many species nest in pre-existing cavities such as hollow stems, beetle borings in wood, or abandoned galls.
Scatella
shore flies
Scatella is a large genus of shore flies in the family Ephydridae, with at least 140 described species worldwide. Species are primarily aquatic or semi-aquatic, associated with streams, seeps, and other moist habitats. Some species have adapted to artificial environments including greenhouses, where they can develop in substrates such as rockwool. The genus has notable diversity in the Pacific basin, including 17 species in the Hawaiian Islands with 15 endemics.