Adia cinerella

Anthomyia pluvialis

Anthomyiidae is a large and diverse family of Muscoidea flies. Most look rather like small houseflies, but are commonly drab grey. The genus Anthomyia, in contrast, are generally conspicuously-patterned in black-and-white or black-and-silvery-grey. Most are difficult to identify, apart from a few groups such as the kelp flies that are conspicuous on beaches.

The name Anthomyiidae was derived from Greek "anthos" (flower) plus "myia" (a fly). Some species are commonly called "root-maggots", as the larvae are found in the stems and roots of various plants. As larvae, some also feed on decaying plant material. The well-known grey "seaweed flies" or "kelp flies" (Fucellia) are examples.^[1] Others are scavengers in such places as birds' nests; yet other species are leaf miners; the family also includes inquilines, commensals, and parasitic larvae.

Some species in the family are significant agricultural pests, particularly some from the genus Delia, which includes the onion fly (Delia antiqua), the wheat bulb fly (Delia coarctata), the turnip root fly (Delia floralis), the bean seed fly (Delia platura) and the cabbage root fly (Delia radicum).

Classification

• Family Anthomyiidae -- anthomyiid flies

• Genus Amygdalops Lamb, 1914
• Subfamily Anthomyiinae

• Tribe Anthomyiini

• Genus Anthomyia Meigen, 1803
• Genus Botanophila Lioy, 1864
• Genus Chiastocheta Pokorny, 1889
• Genus Fucellia Robineau-Desvoidy, 1842
• Genus Hylemya Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830
• Genus Hylemyza Schnabl & Dziedzicki, 1911

• Tribe Chirosiini

• Genus Chirosia Róndani, 1856
• Genus Egle Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830
• Genus Lasiomma Stein, 1916
• Genus Strobilomyia Michelsen, 1988

• Tribe Hydrophoriini

• Genus Acridomyia Stackelberg, 1929
• Genus Adia Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830
• Genus Boreophorbia Michelsen, 1987
• Genus Coenosopsia Malloch, 1924
• Genus Delia Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830
• Genus Eustalomyia Kowarz, 1873
• Genus Heterostylodes Hennig, 1967
• Genus Hydrophoria Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830
• Genus Leucophora Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830
• Genus Paregle Schnabl, 1911
• Genus Phorbia Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830
• Genus Subhylemyia Ringdahl, 1933
• Genus Zaphne Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830

• Subfamily Pegomyinae

• Tribe Pegomyini

• Genus Alliopsis Schnabl & Dziedzicki, 1911
• Genus Emmesomyia Malloch, 1917
• Genus Eutrichota Kowarz, 1893
• Genus Paradelia Ringdahl, 1933
• Genus Parapegomyia Griffiths, 1984
• Genus Pegomya Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830

• Tribe Myopinini

• Genus Pegoplata Schnabl & Dziedzicki, 1911
• Genus Calythea Schnabl in Schnabl & Dziedzicki, 1911
• Genus Myopina Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830

This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.

Identification

• Ackland, D. M. 2001. Revision of afrotropical Anthomyia Meigen, 1803 (Diptera: Anthomyiidae), with descriptions of ten new species. African Invertebrates 42: 1-94. [1]
• Ackland, D. M. 2008. Revision of Afrotropical Delia Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830 (Diptera: Anthomyiidae), with descriptions of six new species. African Invertebrates 49 (1): 1-75. [2]
• Emden, F. I. Van (1941): Keys to the Muscidae of the Ethiopian Region :Scatophaginae, Anthomyiinae, Lispinae, Fanniinae. Bull. Ent.Res., 1941–1942, 32: 251-275. Keys to Afrotropical genera and species. See Pont & Ackland in Crosskey, R. W. et al. 1980 for updated classification and nomenclature.
• Hennig, W., 1966-1976. 63a. Anthomyiidae. In: Die Fliegen der paläarktischen Region 7(1) (Erwin Lindner, ed.): 1-974, pl. 1-78. E. Schweizerbart, Stuttgart. Monograph of Palaearctic species.
• Hucket, H. C. (1965): The Muscidae of Northern Canada, Alaska and Greenland (Diptera). Mem. Ent. Soc. Canada, 42: 1-369. Keys, illustrations.
• Huckett H. C. (1971): The Anthomyiidae of California exclusive of. the subfamily Scatophaginae (Diptera). Bull. Calif. Insect Survey. 12: 1-121. Illustrated Keys. South Nearctic and North Neotropical.
• Pont,A.C., 1972 , Family Muscidae. In: A Catalogue of the Diptera of the Americas South of the United States, 97, 111 p. Museu de Zoologia, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo.
• Suwa, M. (1974): Anthomyiidae of Japan (Diptera). Insecta Matsumurana New Series 4 : 1-247. Comprehensive revision. Excellent illustrations.
• Suwa, M., & B. Darvas (1998): Family Anthomyiidae. In: Contributions to a manual of Palaearctic Diptera Volume 3 (L. Papp & B. Darvas, eds.): 571-616. Science Herald, Budapest.

Species lists

• Palaearctic
• Nearctic
• Australasian/Oceanian
• Japan

References

• Genera - Suwa, M., & B. Darvas, 1998. Family Anthomyiidae. In: Contributions to a manual of Palaearctic Diptera Volume 3 (L. Papp & B. Darvas, eds.): 571-616. Science Herald, Budapest.
• Species - Hennig, W., 1966-1976. 63a. Anthomyiidae. In: Die Fliegen der paläarktischen Region 7(1) (Erwin Lindner, ed.): 1-974, pl. 1-78. E. Schweizerbart, Stuttgart.