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Habitat
Adults: terrestrial
Immatures: terrestrial
Feeding Habits
Adults: saprophagous
Immatures: saprophagous
Size: 1 to 6 mm
Flight : strong flier
North American
Species: 356
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Diptera Phoridae
Humbacked flies or scuttle flies
Front Wings: membranous
Hind Wings: reduced to halteres
Mouthparts: sponging
Antenna Length: shorter than body
Antenna Shape: straight
Front Legs: unmodified
Hind Legs: unmodified
Special Characteristics:
Phoridae are small to very small flies, usually dark coloured, but sometimes yellowish. They have a characteristic humpacked shape and distinctive wing venation, and the hind femora are laterally flattened.
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Comments: Phoridae have a very diverse range of habits. Most phorid larvae are saprophagous in decaying organic matter, some are parasitoids or predators of other insects and of spider and mollusc eggs, and some live in the nests of ants and termites. Adults are usually found in damp places, on or near decaying matter.
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Species:
Gymnophora luteiventris Schmitz
Common Name:
Feeding Habits: Larvae of this species probably feed on a variety of decaying organic materials.
Distribution:
Eastern Canada.
Comments:
Adults of this species are sometimes common on low vegetation in deciduous forests.
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