List of Australian Scatopsidae facts for kids
This article is about the different types of Scatopsidae flies that live in the Australian region. These tiny flies are often called "dung midges" or "latrine flies." They are usually small, dark-colored insects that you might find around decaying plants, fungi, or even animal waste. Scientists study them to understand more about the insect world and how different species are related.
Where in the World?
When we talk about where these flies are found, we use some abbreviations for different places. Here's what they mean:
- Australia
- ACT = Australian Capital Territory
- NSW = New South Wales
- Qld = Queensland
- SA = South Australia
- TAS = Tasmania
- Vic = Victoria
- WA = Western Australia
- NZ = New Zealand
- PNG = Papua New Guinea
Meet the Psectrosciarinae Flies
This is one of the main groups of Scatopsidae flies. Let's look at some of the different kinds found here.
The Anapausis Flies
The Anapausis group of flies was first described by a scientist named Günther Enderlein in 1912. These flies are found in different parts of Australia and New Zealand.
- A. apiocybe (NSW)
- A. conspicua (NSW)
- A. irritata (NSW)
- A. stapedifortmis (NZ)
- A. zealandica (NZ)
The Psectrosciara Flies
Another group in the Psectrosciarinae family is Psectrosciara, first identified by Jean-Jacques Kieffer in 1911. You can find these flies in various Australian states and even in places like Guam and Papua New Guinea.
- P. brevicornis (Guam)
- P. dapsila (WA)
- P. elachys (Qld)
- P. minor (Vic)
- P. nitida (NSW)
- P. novoguiniensis (PNG)
- P. rava (Qld)
Meet the Scatopsinae Flies
This is the second major group of Scatopsidae flies. It includes many different types of these tiny insects.
The Diamphidicus Flies
The Diamphidicus group was first described by Cook in 1971. So far, only one species from this group has been found in the Australian region.
- D. australis (ACT)
The Rhegmoclema Flies
The Rhegmoclema flies were also identified by Günther Enderlein in 1912. This group has many different species found across Australia and Papua New Guinea.
- R. angustipenne (NSW)
- R. bifurcatum (NSW)
- R. cerinum (WA)
- R. collessi (Qld)
- R. hardyi (PNG - Bismarck Arch)
- R. hirtipenne (NSW)
- R. macrokylum (Qld)
- R. madarum (Qld)
- R. noscum (NSW)
- R. pallidum (Qld)
- R. parcum (Qld)
- R. pleonasmon (Qld)
- R. rarum (Qld)
- R. spatulatum (Qld, NSW)
The Rhegmoclemina Flies
Another group, Rhegmoclemina, was described by Günther Enderlein in 1936. These flies are found in several Australian states.
- R. batilliformia (NSW, SA)
- R. eximia (Vic)
- R. teretis (ACT, NSW)
The Parmaferia Flies
The Parmaferia group was identified by Cook in 1977. Species from this group have been found in Papua New Guinea.
- P. dentata (PNG)
- P. pectinata (PNG)
The Scatopse Flies
The Scatopse group is quite well-known and was first described by Étienne Louis Geoffroy in 1762. One species, S. notata, is found all over the world, including many parts of Australia.
- S. notata (Linnaeus, 1758) ("Europa", widespread in Australia, subantarctic islands, Nearctic, Neotropics, Palearctic regions)
- S.longipennis (Skuse, 1889) (NSW)
The Reichertella Flies
Reichertella flies were described by Günther Enderlein in 1912. These flies are found in the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, and Victoria.
- R. forcipata (ACT, NSW, Vic)
The Colobostema Flies
The Colobostema group, described by Günther Enderlein in 1926, has many species found across Australia and Papua New Guinea. Some species even have different subspecies, meaning slight variations within the same species.
- C. abbreviatum (Qld)
- C. albipharsum (Qld)
- C. bihastatum (ACT, NSW)
- C. caudiculum (NSW)
- C. commoni (NSW)
- C. cyclum (Qld)
- C. dilemmum (NSW)
- C. diversum (ACT, WA)
- C. diversum diversum (ACT)
- C. diversum wallacei (WA)
- C. fumipenne (Enderlein, 1926) (PNG)
- C. hirsutum (Qld)
- C. metarhamphe (NSW, Qld)
- C. nocturnale (PNG - Bismarck Arch)
- C. occabipes (NSW, Qld)
- C. occidentale (WA, ACT)
- C. occidentale occidentale (WA)
- C. occidentale tonnoiri (ACT)
- C. paracyclum (Vic)
- C. retusum (ACT)
- C. rhamphe (ACT, NSW, Qld, Vic)
- C. tribulosum (Qld)
- C. truncatum (Qld, NSW)
The Ferneiella Flies
The Ferneiella group was described by Cook in 1974. One species from this group has been found in New South Wales.
- F. angusta (NSW)
The Holoplagia Flies
Holoplagia flies were identified by Günther Enderlein in 1912. These flies are found in Guam, the Hawaiian Islands, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, and Papua New Guinea.
- H. guamensis (Guam, Hawaiian Islands, Marshall Islands, Micronesia)
- H.parallelinervis (Duda, 1928) (PNG)
The Hawomersleya Flies
The Hawomersleya group was described by Cook in 1971. One species has been found in South Australia and the ACT.
- H. aptera (SA, ACT)
The Swammerdamella Flies
Swammerdamella flies were identified by Günther Enderlein in 1912. This group includes several species found across Australia and some Pacific islands.
- S. albimana (Edwards, 1924) (Fiji, Niue)
- S. araia (Qld)
- S. arthmia (Tas, ACT)
- S. crenata (NSW, ACT)
- S. richmondensis (Skuse, 1890) (NSW, Qld)
- S. sessionis (NSW, ACT)
- S. stenotis (NSW, ACT)
- S. therisa (Vic, ACT, NSW, SA, Tas)
The Coboldia Flies
The Coboldia group was described by Axel Leonard Melander in 1916. One species, C. fuscipes, is found all over the world, including many parts of Australia.
- C. fuscipes (Meigen, 1830) (ACT, NSW, Qld, SA, Vic, WA, Hawaiian Islands, Norfolk Island, cosmopolitan)
The Rhexoza Flies
Rhexoza flies were identified by Günther Enderlein in 1936. Species from this group have been found in New South Wales and Queensland.
- R. chelata (NSW)
- R. senticosa (Qld)
