Humpbacked-flies
Guides
Chaetopleurophora
Chaetopleurophora is a genus of scuttle flies (family Phoridae) described by Schmitz in 1922. Members of this genus are small, humpbacked flies characterized by distinctive bristle patterns on the pleura (lateral thoracic sclerites). The genus belongs to the subfamily Phorinae and has been recorded from northern Europe.
Gymnophora
Gymnophora is a genus of scuttle flies in the family Phoridae, established by Macquart in 1835. The genus contains at least 60 described species, though the total number may exceed 69 based on current taxonomic records. Members are small, humpbacked flies characteristic of the Phoridae family.
Phoridae
scuttle flies, humpbacked flies, coffin flies
Phoridae is a family of small, hump-backed flies commonly known as scuttle flies, humpbacked flies, or coffin flies. The family contains approximately 4,000 described species in 230 genera, making it one of the most diverse families of Diptera. Members are characterized by their distinctive escape behavior of running rapidly across surfaces rather than flying, and by a pronounced thoracic hump visible in lateral view. The family exhibits extraordinary biological diversity, with lifestyles ranging from scavenging and fungivory to parasitism of social insects, including highly specialized ant parasitoids in the genus Pseudacteon that are used for biological control of invasive fire ants.
Phorinae
Phorinae is a subfamily of scuttle flies (family Phoridae) containing at least 90 described species across 13 genera. The group includes the type genus Phora, established by Latreille in 1796. Members of this subfamily are small, humpbacked flies with reduced wing venation characteristic of the family. The subfamily was established by Curtis in 1833.
Pterodontia westwoodi
Pterodontia westwoodi is a species of small-headed fly in the family Acroceridae, described by Sabrosky in 1948. Members of this family are characterized by their distinctive humpbacked appearance and reduced head size. The genus Pterodontia is part of the subfamily Panopinae. Information regarding the specific biology and ecology of P. westwoodi remains limited, with only six observations recorded in iNaturalist.