Kingdom Animalia Superfamily Sciomyzoidea Rank Family | Class Insecta Phylum Arthropoda Order Fly | |
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Similar Syringogaster, Cypselosomatidae, Tanypezidae, Neurochaetidae, Strongylophthalmyiidae | ||
The Ropalomeridae are a family of acalyptrate flies.
Contents
Description
Ropalomeridae are robust flies of 6–12 mm (0.24–0.47 in) body length, with a superficial resemblance to the Sarcophagidae in terms of body colour. The hind femora are conspicuously enlarged and the hind tibia is often laterally flattened and broadened and with broad, excavated frons.
Biology
The biology of ropalomerid flies is little known, although they are thought to associated with rotting wood.
Classification
The Ropalomeridae currently comprise 29 species distributed in eight genera. Ropalomera is by far the largest genus of the family, with 15 known species.
Distribution
The Ropalomeridae are predominantly Neotropical, found from the southern United States to northern Argentina, with a single species (Rhytidops floridensis) known from the Nearctic region. Most species occur in the central portion of South America.