Lesser-dung-flies
Guides
Apteromyia
Apteromyia is a genus of small flies in the family Sphaeroceridae, commonly known as lesser dung flies. The genus was described by Vimmer in 1929 and currently contains two recognized species: Apteromyia claviventris and Apteromyia newtoni. Members of this genus are characterized by reduced or absent wings, a trait reflected in the genus name (from Greek 'apteros' meaning wingless and 'myia' meaning fly).
Crumomyia
Crumomyia is a genus of small flies in the family Sphaeroceridae, commonly known as lesser dung flies. Species in this genus have been documented from caves in Europe, including a troglophilous population in the Czech Republic that shows morphological adaptations to subterranean life. The genus is distributed across northern and central Europe, with records from Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.
Limosininae
Limosininae is a subfamily of lesser dung flies (Sphaeroceridae) within the order Diptera. The subfamily comprises numerous genera distributed across the New World and Pacific regions, with many species associated with decaying organic matter and specialized microhabitats. Several genera have been described or revised in recent taxonomic work, including Aptilotella, Phthitia, Albistyla, Helicosina, Stipulosina, and Bregmosina. Species within this subfamily exhibit diverse morphological adaptations, with some showing strong associations with specific plant substrates such as bamboo stipules, furled Heliconia leaves, and treefall habitats rich in green leaf litter.
Lotophila
lesser dung flies
Lotophila is a genus of small flies in the family Sphaeroceridae, commonly known as lesser dung flies. The genus was established by Lioy in 1864 and contains at least three described species distributed across Europe and the Oriental Region. Species are found in Denmark, Norway, Sweden, the United States (Vermont), Vietnam, Nepal, and Thailand. The genus includes Lotophila atra (Meigen, 1830), Lotophila nepalensis Hayashi, 1991, and Lotophila vietnamica Hayashi, 2003.
Mesosphaerocera
Mesosphaerocera is a genus of small flies in the family Sphaeroceridae, commonly known as lesser dung flies. The genus was established by Kim in 1972 and forms part of a distinct supergeneric group alongside Parasphaerocera, Neosphaerocera, Afromyia, and Sphaerocera. Members of this genus are characterized by their placement within the Sphaerocerinae subfamily. The genus remains poorly documented in public sources, with species-level information not readily available.
Minilimosina
lesser dung flies
Minilimosina is a genus of small flies in the family Sphaeroceridae, commonly known as lesser dung flies. The genus was established by Roháček in 1983 and contains more than 70 described species distributed across all continents except Antarctica. Species have been documented from diverse habitats including mammal burrows and have been the subject of recent taxonomic revisions, particularly in China where 16 species are recorded.
Parasphaerocera
lesser dung flies
Parasphaerocera is a genus of small flies in the family Sphaeroceridae, commonly known as lesser dung flies. The genus was established by Spuler in 1924 and is classified within the subfamily Sphaerocerinae. Members of this genus are associated with decomposing organic matter. The genus is rarely encountered, with limited observational records.
Telomerina
Telomerina is a genus of small flies in the family Sphaeroceridae, commonly known as lesser dung flies. The genus was established by Roháček in 1983 and contains approximately 15 described species. Species have been recorded from northern Europe including Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. The genus belongs to the subfamily Limosininae within the sphaerocerid flies.
Thoracochaeta
Thoracochaeta is a genus of small flies in the family Sphaeroceridae, commonly known as lesser dung flies. The genus is associated with marine supralittoral habitats, particularly in coastal environments. In the Nearctic region, it has been treated as a subgenus of Leptocera (Leptocera (Thoracochaeta)), with nine species recognized. Larvae have been described for at least three species.
Thoracochaeta arnaudi
Thoracochaeta arnaudi is a species of small fly in the family Sphaeroceridae, commonly known as lesser dung flies. It was described by Richards in 1963. The genus Thoracochaeta is characterized by distinctive thoracic chaetotaxy (bristle arrangement). Members of this family are generally associated with decomposing organic matter.
Trachyopella
Trachyopella is a genus of small flies in the family Sphaeroceridae, commonly known as lesser dung flies. The genus was established by Duda in 1918 and currently includes approximately 30 described species divided into two subgenera: Trachyopella and Nudopella. Species within this genus have been recorded from Europe, North America, and parts of Asia and Oceania.
Trixoscelis buccata
Trixoscelis buccata is a small fly in the family Heleomyzidae, described by Melander in 1952. Like other members of the genus Trixoscelis, it belongs to a group of flies commonly known as lesser dung flies or heleomyzids. The species is rarely encountered and poorly documented in the literature, with minimal observational records available.