Minute-flies
Guides
Afrocamilla
Afrocamilla is a genus of small flies in the family Camillidae, established by Barraclough in 1992. The genus is endemic to Africa, distinguishing it from the primarily Australasian distribution of related camillid genera. As part of the poorly known family Camillidae, Afrocamilla species are minute acalyptrate flies associated with decaying organic matter. The family Camillidae is placed in the superfamily Opomyzoidea within the large suborder Brachycera.
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.
Camillidae
Camillidae is a small family of minute flies (2–3.5 mm) within the superfamily Ephydroidea. The family contains five genera, four extant and one fossil. Adults are slender, lustrous black flies with hyaline wings and distinctive bristle patterns on the head and thorax. Larval biology is poorly known, though they have been reared from bat guano and rock hyrax dung, suggesting a role in decomposing organic matter in sheltered environments.
Canacidae
beach flies, surf flies, surge flies
Canacidae is a family of minute Diptera commonly known as beach flies, surf flies, or surge flies. The family comprises approximately 307 species in 27 genera as of 2010, though counts vary among sources. Following McAlpine's 2007 taxonomic revision, the family now includes Tethininae as a subfamily, uniting what were previously treated as separate families. Members are predominantly intertidal specialists found along sea coasts worldwide.
Cooka
Cooka is a genus of minute black scavenger flies (family Scatopsidae) described by Amorim in 2007. It belongs to the tribe Swammerdamellini within the subfamily Scatopsinae. Members of this genus are small, dark-colored flies associated with decaying organic matter. The genus was established relatively recently, and its species remain poorly documented in scientific literature.
Cryptochetidae
Cryptochetidae is a small family of minute flies (2–4 mm) in the order Diptera. Adults are typically metallic blue-black with a stout build, broad high head, and clear wings. The family is distinguished by reduced or absent aristae on the antennae, a trait reflected in its name meaning 'hidden bristles'. Larvae are endoparasitoids of scale insects (Coccidae), with some species used in biological control. Approximately 20–30 species are known across three genera, primarily distributed in tropical regions.
Loewimyia
Loewimyia is a genus of small flies in the family Asteiidae, established by Curtis W. Sabrosky in 1943. The genus belongs to a family of minute acalyptrate Diptera that are often overlooked due to their size. Species within Asteiidae are generally associated with decaying vegetation and fungi. Loewimyia appears to be a relatively obscure genus with limited published biological information.
Phlebosotera
Phlebosotera is a genus of small flies in the family Asteiidae, established by Duda in 1927. Members of this family are generally minute, delicate flies associated with decaying plant matter and fungi. The genus is poorly documented in published literature, with limited species-level information available.