Diagnosis. Small to medium-sized flies (3.0-7.0 mm); body yellowish or reddish to black. Head with relatively small eyes, most often with receding mouth edge; antennae small or with strongly elongated third segment and arista (Loxocera ). Thorax slightly arched; dorsocentral setae usually present. Wings hyaline or infuscated; costa with subcostal break; anal vein not reaching wing margin; surface with a transverse weakening in basal half. Legs without strong setae except for apical tibial setae. Abdomen short to long; sometimes strongly tapering in females.
Biology. All species have phytophagous larvae. Loxocera has been reared from Juncus stems; some species of Chamaepsila are recorded as pest species on umbellifers and some other plants. Chyliza leptogaster has been recorded as inquiline in galls; C. extenuata lives in Orobanche. Adults generally are found in herbaceous vegetation or on leafs shrubs and trees.
General references. Bygebjerg et al. (2011 [Chyliza]), Van der Goot & Van Veen (1987, 1996 [keys]), Iwasa (1998 [general]), Shatalkin & Merz (2010 [Chamaepsila pallida group, Psila]), Steyskal (1987c [general]), Wang (1988 [Chamaepsila]).
References to the local fauna. Van der Goot (1989b, 1991b), Van der Goot & Van Veen (1987, 1996), Theowald (1954c), Van der Wulp & De Meijere (1898).
How to quote this page: Beuk, P.L.Th., & V.S. van der Goot, 2020. Family Psilidae. In: Beuk, P.L.Th. (Ed.): Checklist of the Diptera of the Netherlands, https://diptera-info.nl/news.php?fam=Psilidae (date accessed: 09/06/2026).
NL: 22, 2?
B: 16
D: 22, 2?
UK: 26
World: 170
PSILIDAE
Chamaepsila Hendel, 1917
subg. Chamaepsila Hendel, 1917
atra (Meigen, 1826)
N
buccata (Fallén, 1826)
= gracilis (Meigen, 1826)
N
Note 1
limbatella (Zetterstedt, 1847)
N
nigra (Fallén, 1820)
N
nigricornis (Meigen, 1826)
N
pallida (Fallén, 1820)
N
= bicolor (Meigen, 1826): misident. sensu Van der Wulp & De Meijere, 1898
pectoralis (Meigen, 1826)
N
persimilis (Wakerley, 1959)
N; added by Van der Goot & Van Veen (1987: 38)
rosae (Fabricius, 1794)
N
subg. Tetrapsila Frey, 1925
obscuritarsis (Loew, 1856)
N; added by Van der Goot (1991b: 143)
Chyliza Fallén, 1820
subg. Chyliza Fallén, 1820
annulipes Macquart, 1835
N
leptogaster (Panzer, 1798)
N
nova Collin, 1944
N
vittata Meigen, 1826
N
subg. Dasyna Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830
extenuata (Rossi, 1790)
N
Imantimyia Frey, 1925
Note 2
albiseta (Schrank, 1803)
N
fulviventris (Meigen, 1826)
N
sylvatica (Meigen, 1826)
N
Loxocera Meigen, 1803
subg. Loxocera Meigen, 1803
aristata (Panzer, 1801)
N
subg. Platystyla Macquart, 1835
Note 3
hoffmannseggi Meigen, 1826
N
Psila Meigen, 1803
fimetaria (Linnaeus, 1761)
N
merdaria Collin, 1944
N
Doubtful species
Chamaepsila Hendel, 1917
subg. Chamaepsila Hendel, 1917
rufa (Meigen, 1826)
Note 4
villosula (Meigen, 1826)
Note 5
Deleted species
Chamaepsila Hendel, 1917
subg. Chamaepsila Hendel, 1917
bicolor (Meigen, 1826)
Note 6
Notes
Note 1
Synonymy by Soós (1985: 243).
Note 2
The use of Imantimyia as valid genus for these species follows Shatalkin & Merz (2010) since this usage was followed by subsequent authors. However, in practice they would have been justified to treat it as a subgenus of Loxocera.
Note 3
Platystyla was synonymised with Loxocera by Buck & Marshall (2006) but reinstated as valid subgenus of Loxocera by Shatalkin & Merz (2010).
Note 4
Doubtfully indigenous according to Van der Goot & Van Veen (1987: 36).
Note 5
The identity of the only recorded specimen by Van der Goot & Van Veen (1987: 40; 1996: 36) was questioned by Van der Goot (1991b: 143). He could not rule out that it represented an aberrant specimen of C. rosae.
Note 6
Deleted by Theowald (1954c: 176) as misidentification of C. pallida.
The latest revisions at different levels
The family introduction was last edited on 12-08-2014 18:35
Imantimyia was the last (sub)genus to be edited on 05-02-2014 15:45
Chamaepsila buccata was the last (sub)species to be edited on 25-11-2020 18:01
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