Scatopsidae
Reichert Ella geniculata
The dung flies ( Scatopsidae ) are a family of two-winged flies (Diptera ) and belong to the gnats ( Nematocera ). Worldwide, about 350 species of this group of animals, including 35 species from Germany known. There are small to medium-sized mosquitoes.
Features
The Dung mosquitoes have a totally smooth body and do not sting. They are mainly found in the vicinity of dung heaps and abortions. The type Scatopse is notata it spread worldwide ( cosmopolitan ) and adheres quite often in homes on the window panes on. Other species frequently live on umbelliferous.
Development
The larvae of the dung flies are found primarily on dung ( coprophagia ), under bark, in fungi, under leaf litter or dead wood. They are often gregarious and are characterized by standing on longer tubes rear openings of the tracheae. The larvae of Holoplagia transversalis live as a guest in the buildings of ants Formica species. The larvae of Scatops notata are occasionally harmful in mushroom farms, which are held on the basis of horse manure. Pupation takes place at the feeding places, most of the doll is surrounded here by the last larval skin. Breathing doll via prothorakale breathing tubes (chest croissant ) that are branched.
Fossil evidence
Fossil evidence of this family are rare. Are the oldest fossil representatives of this family in Cretaceous Canadian and Siberian amber found dung flies. In addition, manure mosquitoes from various tertiary amber deposits are known, including representatives of the still existing genus Scatopse in Baltic and Mexican amber.