Rhinophoridae
Freudenfeldia rubricosa
The Rhinophoridae are a small, Tachinidae the close family of flies. They are mostly parasites of woodlice ( Isopoda ).
Description
There are small to medium-sized (2-11 mm), more or less stocky built fly from mostly gray - black in color, in some places, sometimes with yellowish discoloration. None of it is metallic and shiny. Thorax and abdomen are covered with strong bristles. Overall, they resemble externally the Tachinidae. In contrast to these their Postscutellum (see Build the Tachinidae ) is greatly reduced.
Another distinguishing feature is the Arista (sensor bristle ), which is covered with short at the Rhinophoridae. The second antennal segment is distinctly grooved. The Ptilinalnaht is well trained.
Striking in the venation of the wings is the wing cell R5, a large cell radius between the latest and the median vein. The median vein has a kink and ends, in most species well before the wing tip, the radius. Thereby, the vane is closed and given a triangular shape.
A Calypter under the hind wings exists, but is narrower than in the Tachinidae.
Biology
About the biology of most species of the genus, even more frequent species, nothing is known.
Those species which are known to biology, parasitize almost always on terrestrial isopods, some allegedly on beetles and spiders. Information showing that also occur snails as host animals, mostly related to the genera Angioneura and Melanomyia, which are now found mostly in the family of blowflies.
The adult females lay their eggs in the near Assel colonies. The larvae that hatch after a few days and one to two weeks without a host are viable, search autonomously their host, where they do not appear to be particularly species-specific. Then bore into the host, wherein the rear stigmata remain at the opening, to ensure the oxygen supply. In each host lives only one larva.
In Central Europe the larvae overwinter in the larval stage 2 in the living host. In the spring the flies then complete their development with the 3rd instar and the host is killed.
Dissemination
The greatest variety reached the family in the Mediterranean region and in Africa. Some species are also found in Europe, the rest of Asia, and North America.
One finds the fly wherever there are isopods, especially in forests.
Central European genera
- Anthracomyia
- Chaetostevenia
- Cirillia
- Frauenfeldia
- Melanophora
- Metopisena
- Oplisa
- Parafeburia
- Paykullia
- Phyto
- Rhinomorinia
- Rhinophora
- Stevenia
- Styloneuria
- Tricogena