Sexual-selection
Guides
Achroia grisella
Lesser Wax Moth
Achroia grisella, the lesser wax moth, is a pyralid moth and pest of honey bee colonies worldwide. It is smaller and less destructive than the greater wax moth (Galleria mellonella), primarily infesting weak or abandoned honey bee colonies where larvae feed on beeswax, pollen, honey, and brood cappings. The species has a worldwide distribution in temperate and tropical regions where honey bees are kept, and its spread has been facilitated by human-mediated transport of beekeeping equipment. Adults are small grayish moths with distinctive yellow heads. The species is notable for its unusually simple directional ear, which enables acoustic localization for both predator avoidance and mate finding.
Amblycorypha parvipennis
Western Round-winged Katydid
Amblycorypha parvipennis, the western round-winged katydid, is a phaneropterine katydid in the family Tettigoniidae. It is found in North America, with confirmed records from Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, and Missouri. Males produce calling songs for acoustic communication, a key feature of their mating behavior. The species exhibits typical katydid traits including leaf-mimicking wing venation and sound production via forewing stridulation.
Anisolabis
Anisolabis is a genus of earwigs in the subfamily Anisolabidinae, with most species occurring in Asia. The genus name derives from the asymmetrical male cerci, with the right cercus more acute than the left. The best-studied species is Anisolabis maritima, the maritime earwig, which has been extensively researched for its social behavior, sexual selection, and maternal care. Other species such as A. annulipes are known agricultural pests.
Apiomerus
Bee Assassins, Bee Assassin Bugs
Apiomerus is a genus of brightly colored, conspicuous assassin bugs in the family Reduviidae, commonly known as bee assassins. The genus contains approximately 110 described species and represents the largest clade within the monophyletic tribe Apiomerini. Members are characterized by their use of plant resin as 'sticky traps' to capture prey, a trait unique among assassin bugs. Females possess specialized tibial combs for resin collection and application onto egg masses, providing maternal care. The genus exhibits significant sexual dimorphism and extreme diversity in genital morphology, hypothesized to result from sexual selection driving speciation.
Arctia plantaginis
wood tiger, wood tiger moth
Arctia plantaginis, commonly known as the wood tiger moth, is a Holarctic moth species in the family Erebidae. Males exhibit striking color polymorphism with yellow or white hindwing morphs, both featuring black banding patterns that function as aposematic warning signals. The species has been extensively studied as a model organism for understanding the evolutionary trade-offs between predator avoidance, sexual selection, immune function, and thermoregulation. Larvae show predator-induced plasticity in warning signal expression, developing more melanized coloration when exposed to predation risk.
Argia apicalis
Blue-fronted Dancer
Argia apicalis, commonly known as the Blue-fronted Dancer, is a species of damselfly in the family Coenagrionidae native to North America. First described by Thomas Say in 1840, it is a common and widespread species assessed as Least Concern by the IUCN. The species exhibits notable color polymorphism, with males occurring in bright blue and gray-black phases and females in brown, turquoise, and gray-black phases. Color changes are multi-directional and not tied to age or mating status. Males use thoracic color patterns for sex recognition, with brown females eliciting the strongest sexual response. The species shows distinctive geographical variation in thoracic stripe patterns, with broad-striped forms in the southeastern United States and typical forms elsewhere.
Belostoma lutarium
giant water bug
Belostoma lutarium is a species of giant water bug in the family Belostomatidae, native to North America. This aquatic insect is notable for its distinctive paternal care behavior, in which males carry egg clutches on their backs until hatching—a rare form of male parental investment in insects. The species exhibits sexual dimorphism with females being the larger sex, and studies suggest males may be the choosier sex in mate selection. As a predator, it feeds on aquatic invertebrates, small fish, and amphibian larvae including tadpoles.
Bittacidae
Hangingflies, Hanging scorpionflies
Bittacidae is a family of scorpionflies commonly known as hangingflies or hanging scorpionflies. Adults are characterized by their distinctive hanging posture, grasping vegetation with their forelegs while using their raptorial hindlegs to capture prey. The family exhibits notable sexual behavior including nuptial prey gift exchange, where males present captured prey to females during courtship. Bittacidae has a cosmopolitan distribution with significant diversity in Australia, where the genus Harpobittacus represents the largest radiation. The family has been subject to extensive taxonomic study, particularly in the Afrotropics where Dr. Jason Londt described more species than any other author.
Bittacus
hangingfly, hanging fly
Bittacus is a genus of hangingflies (Mecoptera: Bittacidae) characterized by their distinctive habit of hanging from vegetation using their modified forelegs. The genus has a cosmopolitan distribution and has existed since at least the Late Cretaceous. Bittacus is currently considered grossly paraphyletic, serving as a catch-all taxon for many distantly related hangingfly species. Members are predatory insects with specialized raptorial mid- and hindlegs used for capturing arthropod prey.
Bittacus stigmaterus
Say's Hanging-fly
Bittacus stigmaterus is a North American hangingfly in the family Bittacidae, commonly known as Say's Hanging-fly. The species exhibits elaborate courtship behavior in which males capture arthropod prey and present them to females as nuptial gifts. Females exercise mate choice based on prey size, with larger gifts increasing male mating success. Males also engage in kleptoparasitism, stealing prey gifts from rival males.
Bolitotherus
horned fungus beetle, forked fungus beetle
Bolitotherus is a genus of darkling beetles (Tenebrionidae) native to North America. The genus contains at least one well-documented species, Bolitotherus cornutus, commonly known as the forked fungus beetle or horned fungus beetle. All life stages are tightly associated with the fruiting bodies of wood-decaying bracket fungi, particularly species of Ganoderma and Fomes. These beetles have become important model organisms for studying sexual selection, social behavior, and population ecology in wild insect populations. Males possess distinctive thoracic horns used in combat for access to mating territories on fungal brackets.
Bolitotherus cornutus
Forked Fungus Beetle
Bolitotherus cornutus, commonly known as the forked fungus beetle, is a darkling beetle native to eastern North America. Adult males possess prominent forward-curving thoracic horns used in combat with rival males for access to females. The species completes its entire life cycle—egg, larva, pupa, and adult—within or upon the fruiting bodies of wood-decaying bracket fungi, particularly species of Ganoderma and Fomes. It has become a well-studied model organism for research on sexual selection, social evolution, and behavior in natural populations.
Chauliognathus pensylvanicus
Goldenrod Soldier Beetle, Pennsylvania Leatherwing
Chauliognathus pensylvanicus, commonly known as the goldenrod soldier beetle or Pennsylvania leatherwing, is a species of soldier beetle (family Cantharidae) native to North America. Adults are active in late summer and autumn, where they are frequently observed on goldenrod flowers and other Asteraceae. Both adult and larval stages are predatory, feeding on various plant pests. The species is notable for its susceptibility to the fungal pathogen Eryniopsis lampyridarum, which causes behavioral manipulation and death.
Coelopa
Bristly Kelp Flies, kelp flies, seaweed flies
Coelopa is a genus of kelp flies comprising approximately 13-14 described species. These flies are obligate associates of stranded seaweed (wrackbeds) in coastal environments, where they complete their entire life cycle. The genus is notable for extensive research on sexual selection, chromosomal inversions, and ecological genetics, particularly in the well-studied species Coelopa frigida. Species within this genus exhibit resource competition and dietary niche partitioning where sympatric.
Coelopa frigida
seaweed fly, kelp fly
Coelopa frigida is a seaweed fly and the most widely distributed species in its genus, found on temperate Northern Hemisphere shorelines with stranded algae. Adults are 5–6 mm with dark brown to black bodies, lighter legs, and large translucent wings. The species exhibits a chromosomal inversion polymorphism (αβ system) that generates two distinct size morphs with different developmental rates and life-history strategies. It has become a model organism for studying sexual selection, particularly female choice and sexual conflict, and for investigating the genetic basis of local adaptation through chromosomal inversions.
Coelopidae
kelp flies, seaweed flies
Coelopidae, commonly known as kelp flies or seaweed flies, is a small family of acalyptrate Diptera containing fewer than 40 species worldwide. These flies are specialized inhabitants of temperate seashore wrack zones, where their larvae develop in decaying seaweed. The family exhibits notable sexual dimorphism and complex mating behaviors involving scramble competition and sexual conflict. Coelopidae are significant decomposers in coastal ecosystems and can reach enormous biomass in their specialized habitat.
Colias eurytheme
Orange Sulphur, Alfalfa Butterfly, Alfalfa Caterpillar
Colias eurytheme, the orange sulphur or alfalfa butterfly, is a widespread North American pierid butterfly found from southern Canada to Mexico. The species is highly variable in coloration, with both orange and white morphs present, and exhibits complex thermal biology and sexual selection dynamics. Larvae are significant agricultural pests of alfalfa and other legumes, while adults are known for mass emigration events when host crops are harvested. The species has been extensively studied for its metabolic responses to temperature, costs of mating in females, and disruptive sexual selection patterns.
Coniceromyia
Coniceromyia is a genus of scuttle flies (Diptera: Phoridae) primarily distributed in the Neotropical region. The genus exhibits substantial morphological diversity, with recent taxonomic work describing 41 new species and highlighting complex male secondary sexual characteristics. Species identification relies heavily on male genitalic structures and leg modifications. The true diversity of the genus remains poorly understood due to high rates of singleton and doubleton specimens in collections.
Copiphorini
Coneheads
Copiphorini is a tribe of katydids (Tettigoniidae) within the subfamily Conocephalinae, characterized by a distinctive cone-shaped projection on the head that extends forward in front of the antennae base. Members range from 24 to 74 mm in length, with females typically larger than males. The tribe was originally described as a subfamily (Copiphorinae) by Karny in 1912 but has been reclassified. Species produce loud songs through forewing stridulation and possess straight, slender, toothless ovipositors.
Cyphoderris
Hump-winged Grigs
Cyphoderris is a genus of primitive orthopterans known as hump-winged grigs, representing a relict lineage of the ancient family Haglidae (now Prophalangopsidae). These cold-adapted, nocturnal insects are restricted to high-elevation coniferous forests and sagebrush meadows of western North America. Males produce acoustic signals by rubbing their forewings together to attract females. The genus exhibits unusual reproductive biology in which females feed on male metathoracic wing tissue during copulation, and males provide substantial proteinaceous spermatophores. Only three species are currently recognized: C. strepitans, C. buckelli, and C. monstrosa.
Dineutus nigrior
whirligig beetle
A species of whirligig beetle in the family Gyrinidae, found across North America. Adults are surface-dwelling aquatic beetles known for their distinctive circular swimming patterns and social aggregations on water. Males possess enlarged protarsal pads used during mating attempts, and accessory glands that show positive allometry associated with increased mating success. The species serves as host to water mites, with parasitism levels linked to host body condition and sex.
Diopsidae
Stalk-eyed Flies
Stalk-eyed flies are a family of true flies distinguished by their most conspicuous feature: eyes mounted at the ends of long lateral projections called eyestalks. This unique morphology is directly linked to their mating behavior, with males typically possessing longer eyestalks than females and using them in visual displays during courtship. The family occurs primarily in tropical and subtropical regions of Africa and Asia, with some species extending into the Arabian Peninsula and other areas. Several species are known agricultural pests, particularly as stem-borers in rice and other Poaceae.
Dynastinae
Rhinoceros beetles, Hercules beetles, unicorn beetles, horn beetles
Dynastinae is a subfamily of Scarabaeidae containing over 1,500 species across 225 genera, commonly known as rhinoceros beetles. Members are characterized by prominent horns on males of most species, used in combat for mating access. The subfamily includes some of the largest beetles, with species reaching over 15 cm in length. Despite their formidable appearance, they are harmless to humans.
Dytiscidae
predaceous diving beetles, diving beetles
Dytiscidae, the predaceous diving beetles, is a family of aquatic beetles containing over 4,000 described species. Adults range from 0.9 mm to 4.75 cm in length, with most species between 1–2.5 cm. They are characterized by enlarged, flattened hind legs adapted for swimming and a streamlined, oval body shape that reduces drag underwater. The family exhibits remarkable chemical ecology, producing unique defensive steroids found nowhere else in the animal kingdom. Larvae, known as "water tigers," are elongate predators with sharp, pincer-like mandibles that inject digestive enzymes into prey.
Empidinae
dance flies
Empidinae, commonly called dance flies, are a subfamily of predatory empidoid flies. Males of many species form mating swarms near visual markers, often presenting captured prey to females as nuptial gifts during courtship. The subfamily exhibits diverse mating systems, including lek polygyny and sex-role reversal where females swarm and males choose mates. Many species are effective pollinators of flowering plants, particularly in alpine and subalpine ecosystems where they can achieve pollination effectiveness comparable to honeybees.
Gnatocerus cornutus
Broadhorned Flour Beetle, Broad-horned Flour Beetle
Gnatocerus cornutus is a globally distributed stored-product pest in the darkling beetle family Tenebrionidae. Males possess enlarged mandibles used as weapons in intrasexual combat, representing a well-studied model for sexual selection and condition-dependent trait expression. The species exhibits striking sexual dimorphism and intra-sexual dimorphism in males, with weapon size strongly influenced by larval nutrition.
Gryllotalpa major
prairie mole cricket
Gryllotalpa major, the prairie mole cricket, is the largest cricket species in North America, endemic to the tallgrass prairie ecosystems of the south-central United States. Males exhibit a classical lekking mating system, constructing specialized acoustic burrows that amplify their calling songs to attract flying females from distances up to 400 meters. The species is threatened by habitat loss due to prairie conversion, with current populations restricted to fragmented sites in Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, and Arkansas. Research has documented unique acoustic behaviors, including harmonic chirps rather than trills, and vibrational communication between neighboring males through the soil.
Gryllus lineaticeps
Variable Field Cricket
Gryllus lineaticeps, the variable field cricket, is a North American field cricket species distinguished by its flexible mate-searching behavior. Females exhibit phonotaxis toward male calling songs and adjust their preferences based on acoustic experience, rejecting lower-quality songs after exposure to more attractive alternatives. Males produce energetically costly calls, with oxygen consumption increasing 2.7 times basal rates during chirping. The species undergoes flight muscle histolysis during the transition from dispersal to reproduction, with autophagy selectively breaking down dorsal longitudinal flight muscles while preserving dorsoventral muscles for walking. Thermal preferences vary across the diel cycle and shift in response to starvation, reflecting life history trade-offs between activity and energy conservation.
Gryllus pennsylvanicus
Fall Field Cricket
Gryllus pennsylvanicus, commonly known as the fall field cricket, is a widespread North American cricket species distinguished by its autumn breeding season and distinctive chirping. Adults are medium-sized crickets, 15–25 mm in length, with dark black to dark brown coloration and occasionally a slight reddish tint. The species is notable for its temperature-dependent chirping rate, which has been used as a biological thermometer. Males produce calling songs from burrow entrances to attract females, with older males typically preferred by females. The species has an annual life cycle with one generation per year, overwintering as eggs in soil.
Gryllus rubens
Southeastern field cricket
Gryllus rubens, the southeastern field cricket, is a trilling field cricket native to the southeastern United States. It is a cryptic sister species to G. texensis, from which it originated via peripatric speciation. The species exhibits remarkable phenotypic plasticity in its communication system, with male calling songs and female preferences shifting reversibly between spring and fall generations in response to temperature. Wing polymorphism is environmentally and genetically influenced, with long-winged morphs appearing in spring/summer and short-winged morphs predominating in autumn/winter.
Habronattus
Paradise Jumping Spiders
Habronattus is a genus of jumping spiders (Salticidae) comprising approximately 105 recognized species as of 2023. The genus is primarily native to North America, with highest diversity in the southwestern United States, though some species extend into Central America and above the Arctic Circle. Males are renowned for elaborate courtship displays combining visual signals—using modified third legs with spurs, colored scales, and dense hair brushes—with complex vibratory (acoustic) signals transmitted through the substrate. These multimodal displays have been described as among the most elaborate of any terrestrial invertebrate. Females are typically cryptic in coloration, while males exhibit bright, species-specific ornamentation.
Habronattus americanus
Habronattus americanus is a species of jumping spider in the family Salticidae, native to western North America. Males are distinguished by black coloration with bright red pedipalps and leg markings used in courtship displays to attract females. The species is part of the diverse Habronattus genus, known for elaborate multimodal courtship involving visual, vibratory, and acoustic signals. Research indicates strong female preference for male red ornamentation, which can drive interspecific mating dynamics with related species.
Habronattus brunneus
Habronattus brunneus is a species of jumping spider in the family Salticidae, first described by George and Elizabeth Peckham in 1901. It occurs in the United States and Caribbean, including the Bahamas, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Hispaniola, and the Virgin Islands. Males discriminate between substrate-borne cues from females based on age and mating status, spending more time exploring cues from mature, non-mated females. Populations exhibit differing prey colour biases, with some showing strong avoidance of red prey and others showing no colour bias.
Habronattus pyrrithrix
Habronattus pyrrithrix is a small jumping spider in the family Salticidae, native to the southwestern United States and western Mexico. Males display striking sexual dimorphism with bright red facial coloration and green legs used in complex multimodal courtship displays, while females are larger with cryptic brown and grey coloration. The species exhibits trichromatic vision and uses color cues when foraging, actively avoiding red and yellow prey that may signal chemical defenses. Males employ visual, vibratory, and seismic signals during courtship to reduce female aggression and cannibalism risk.
Hetaerina
Rubyspots
Hetaerina is a genus of damselflies in the family Calopterygidae, commonly known as rubyspots due to the deep red wing bases of males. The genus comprises approximately 40 species distributed throughout the Americas, with highest diversity in tropical South America. Males exhibit pronounced sexual dimorphism with iridescent metallic bodies and characteristic red wing spots, while females have pale brown wings and cryptically patterned bodies. The genus is notable for its lek polygyny mating system, which is uncommon among Odonata, and has become an important study system for sexual selection research.
Hetaerina titia
smoky rubyspot
Hetaerina titia, the smoky rubyspot, is a broad-winged damselfly in the family Calopterygidae. It is one of the most commonly encountered odonates along streams and rivers from Panama to southern Canada, representing the largest latitudinal range of any species in the genus Hetaerina. The species exhibits highly variable wing melanin pigmentation, both seasonally and geographically, and has become a model system for studying sexual selection and interspecific behavioral interference. Its IUCN conservation status is Least Concern with a stable population.
Lampyrinae
typical fireflies
Lampyrinae is the largest subfamily of fireflies (Lampyridae), comprising over half of the family's genera. Historically used as a 'wastebin taxon' for fireflies with unresolved relationships, recent molecular phylogenetics have clarified its boundaries as a monophyletic group. The subfamily exhibits exceptional diversity in bioluminescent communication, including both flashing and continuous-glow species distributed across the Holarctic and tropical regions. Ancestral Lampyrinae likely possessed primitive or absent light signals, with several modern lineages independently reverting to pheromone-based communication.
Listroscelidinae
Spiny Predatory Katydids
Listroscelidinae is a subfamily of predatory katydids (Tettigoniidae) distributed across the Americas, Madagascar, and Australia. Members are characterized by spiny morphology and predatory habits, with enlarged mandibles adapted for capturing prey. The subfamily contains multiple tribes including Listroscelidini, Terpandrini, Requenini, Hamayulini, and Conocephalomimini. Several genera have been described in recent decades, particularly from the Atlantic Forest biome of Brazil and northern Australia. The genus Arachnoscelis gained public attention after appearing on the cover of Science in 2012.
Maevia inclemens
Dimorphic Jumping Spider
Maevia inclemens is a small jumping spider native to eastern North America, notable for its extreme male dimorphism. Adult males occur in two genetically determined morphs of equal frequency: a 'tufted' morph with an all-black body, white legs, and three cephalothoracic tufts, and a 'gray' morph with black-and-white striping and orange pedipalps. Each morph performs a distinct courtship display, and both achieve equal mating success. The species frequents vegetation, fences, and building exteriors.
Metellina
Autumn Spider
Metellina is a genus of orb-weaving spiders in the family Tetragnathidae, distributed primarily across Eurasia with two species in North America. The genus includes sixteen species as of 2025, with M. segmentata being the most abundant orb-weaving spider in Germany and introduced to Canada. Metellina spiders construct webs low in vegetation and are commonly known as Autumn Spiders. Some researchers have proposed placing this genus in a distinct family, Metidae.
Narnia femorata
Leaf-footed Cactus Bug
Narnia femorata is a leaf-footed bug (Coreidae) native to the southern United States and Central America. The species was introduced to Florida in the 1960s via nursery stock and is now fully established. It feeds primarily on cactus fruit, especially Opuntia species, using a long tube-like beak. Males possess enlarged, spiny hind femora used as weapons in male-male combat for territories on cactus pads bearing fruit. The species exhibits pronounced phenotypic plasticity, with body size, weapon size, and beak length changing seasonally in response to host plant fruit availability. Populations have been documented utilizing Cirsium thistle as an alternative host, representing a recent host range expansion.
Nehalennia irene
Sedge Sprite
Nehalennia irene, commonly known as the sedge sprite, is a small damselfly in the family Coenagrionidae. The species exhibits female-limited color polymorphism, with two distinct female morphs: an androchrome morph that resembles males in coloration and pattern, and a gynochrome morph that is dissimilar to males. Research indicates complex behavioral interactions between these morphs and males, with differential patterns of attraction, harassment, and refusal displays. The species is found in North America, particularly in association with sedge-dominated wetlands.
Oecanthus nigricornis
black-horned tree cricket, common tree cricket
Oecanthus nigricornis, commonly known as the black-horned tree cricket, is a species of tree cricket in the subfamily Oecanthinae found across North America. Males produce a distinctive courtship song using modified forewings and offer nutritional glandular secretions from a metanotal gland as nuptial gifts during mating. The species has been documented as a host for the parasitoid fly Stylogaster neglecta, with juvenile parasitism rates varying considerably across its range.
Onthophagini
Onthophagine dung beetles
Onthophagini is a large and ecologically significant tribe of dung beetles within the family Scarabaeidae. The tribe comprises approximately half of the world's dung beetle fauna, with the genus Onthophagus alone containing over 2,300 species worldwide. Members are found on every continent except Antarctica. The tribe originated from a single common ancestor shared with the Oniticellini, with which it forms a monophyletic group. While many dung beetles are known for ball-rolling behavior, Onthophagini species exhibit diverse feeding strategies including specialization on fungi, carrion, and dead millipedes, with some species living in close association with termites and ants.
Onthophagus
Onthophagus is the most species-rich genus in the subfamily Scarabaeinae (true dung beetles), containing over 2,200 species across approximately 30 subgenera. The genus has a global distribution spanning all major biogeographic regions. Members are characterized by extreme diversity in male horn morphology, which has made them a model system for studying sexual selection and evolutionary developmental biology. The genus name derives from Greek roots meaning 'dung-eater.'
Onthophagus orpheus
Green-bronze Dung Beetle
Onthophagus orpheus is a dung beetle in the family Scarabaeidae, abundant in urban forests of the eastern United States. Males possess prominent thoracic horns used in combat for access to females, with horn size varying continuously across individuals. The species has been extensively studied for its sexual selection dynamics and serves as a model for urban adaptation in insects. A high-quality genome assembly has been published to support research on behavioral ecology and population genetics.
Ophraella communa
ragweed leaf beetle
Ophraella communa is a small leaf beetle native to North America that has been introduced to Europe and Asia as a biological control agent for the invasive weed common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia). Adults and larvae feed on leaves and flowers of Asteraceae, with a strong preference for ragweed. The species has demonstrated rapid adaptive evolution of cold tolerance in newly colonized regions, facilitating northward expansion. Multiple mating is positively associated with fitness in this species, with females preferring larger males that confer reproductive advantages through seminal fluid proteins.
Panorpa
scorpionflies, common scorpionflies
Panorpa is the largest and most widespread genus of scorpionflies (family Panorpidae), comprising approximately 260 described species as of 2018. These insects are characterized by the male's enlarged, scorpion-like genital claspers that curl upward at the abdomen tip. The genus is primarily distributed in the Northern Hemisphere, with notable absence from western North America. Both larvae and adults are scavengers that feed on dead or dying arthropods, playing important roles in nutrient cycling and forensic entomology. Several species, particularly P. vulgaris and P. nuptialis, have become model organisms for studying sexual selection and nuptial gift behavior.
Philodromus cespitum
Turf Running Spider, Running Crab Spider
Philodromus cespitum is a small running crab spider in the family Philodromidae, widely distributed across the Holarctic region. It is the dominant spider species in Central European fruit orchards, where it functions as an important biological control agent. Males measure 3.5–5.0 mm, females approximately 5.3 mm. Body coloration is variable, typically in shades of brown or yellow with spotted patterns. The species exhibits distinctive reproductive biology including male courtship tapping behavior and the use of genital plugs during copulation.
Piophilidae
cheese skipper flies, skipper flies, cheese flies, ham skippers, bacon flies
Piophilidae are a family of small Diptera commonly known as cheese skipper or skipper flies. Most species are scavengers specialized on animal products, carrion, and fungi. The family is notable for larvae that possess an unusual leaping ability, achieved by grasping their posterior with mouth hooks and releasing to catapult themselves. Several species have forensic and medical significance, including Piophila casei, a cosmopolitan pest of cured meats and cheeses whose larvae can cause enteric myiasis in humans.