Lance-flies
Guides
Silba
lance flies
Silba is a genus of lance flies in the family Lonchaeidae, containing more than 120 described species. The genus has a cosmopolitan distribution, occurring on every continent except South America and Antarctica. Species within Silba exhibit diverse larval development strategies, with some species associated with figs (including the economically significant pest Silba adipata), while others develop in flower buds, fungal fruiting bodies, or other substrates. The genus is taxonomically active, with numerous new species described in recent decades, particularly from the Afrotropical and Asian regions.
Silba fumosa
Silba fumosa is a small lance fly in the family Lonchaeidae, reaching approximately 4 millimeters in body length. The species exhibits metallic dark blue coloration with sexual dimorphism in mesonotum sheen: males have a dull mesonotum while females display a shiny midline. It is native to the Palearctic region and has been documented in mature woodland habitats. The species is distinct from the congeneric black fig fly (Silba adipata), a major agricultural pest.