The Pyrgotidae are an unusual family of flies (Diptera), one of only two families of Cyclorrhapha that lack ocelli. Most species are "picture-winged" (i.e., have patterns of bands or spots on the wings), as is typical among the Tephritoidea, but unlike other tephritoids, they are endoparasitoids; the females pursue scarab beetles in flight, laying an egg on the beetle's back under the elytra where the beetle cannot reach it. The egg hatches and the fly larva enters the body cavity of the beetle, feeding and eventually killing the host before pupating. In the United States, some species of Pyrgota and Sphecomyiella can be quite common in areas where their host beetles (typically the genus Phyllophaga, or "June beetles") are abundant. Like their host beetles, these flies are primarily nocturnal, and are often attracted to artificial lights.

Genera

Acropyrgota Hendel, 1914 Adapsilia Waga, 1842 Adapsona Paramonov, 1958 Afropyrgota V. Korneyev, 2015 Austromyia Hardy, 1954 Boreothrinax Steyskal, 1978 Campylocera Macquart, 1843 Cardiacera Macquart, 1847 Carrerapyrgota Aczél, 1956 Clemaxia Enderlein, 1942 Commoniella Paramonov, 1958 Descoleia Aczel, 1956 Diasteneura Hendel, 1908 Epice Paramonov, 1958 Eumorphomyia Hendel, 1907 Eupyrgota Coquillett, 1898 (Synonyms: Apyrgota Hendel, 1909; Taeniomastix Enderlein, 1942) Facilina Paramonov, 1958 Frontalia Malloch, 1929 Geloemyia Hendel, 1908 Hendelpyrgota Vanschuytbroeck, 1963 Hypotyphla Loew, 1873 Leptopyrgota Hendel, 1914 Lopadops Enderlein, 1942 Lygiohypotyphla Enderlein, 1942 Maenomenus Bezzi, 1929 Metropina Enderlein, 1942 Neopyrgota Hendel, 1934 Neotoxura Malloch, 1929 Parageloemyia Hendel, 1934 Platynostira Enderlein, 1942 Plectrobrachis Enderlein, 1942 Porpomastix Enderlein, 1942 Prodalmannia Bezzi, 1929 Prohypotyphla Hendel, 1934 Pyrgota Wiedemann, 1830 Pyrgotella Curran, 1934 Pyrgotina Malloch, 1929 Pyrgotomyia Hendel, 1934 Pyrgotosoma Malloch, 1933 Siridapha Enderlein, 1942 Stirothrinax Enderlein, 1942 Tephritohypotyphla Vanschuytbroeck, 1963 Tephritopyrgota Hendel, 1914 Toxopyrgota Hendel, 1914 Toxura Macquart, 1851 Trichempodia Malloch, 1930 Tropidothrinax Enderlein, 1942 Tylotrypes Bezzi, 1914

References

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