Diagnosis. Very small flies (1.0-2.5 mm). Head with large eyes; vibrissae absent but genae with series of strong peristomal setae; orbital setae lateroclinate; antennae short, resembling those of Clusiidae but without lateral extension on pedicel. Thorax with many small setulae; 0+3 dorsocentral setae. Wings clear or infuscated along anterior margin; costa only with humeral break; Sc complete; anal vein not reaching wing margin. Legs with longer posteroventral setae on fore femora; tibiae without preapical setae but mid tibia with ventral spur; legs otherwise simple. Abdomen short.
Biology. Adults are often collected near fungi, decaying wood and other decomposing organic matter, like dung and carrion. Males have been found to display territorial behaviour on carrion; females visit carrion for feeding, mating and oviposition.
General references. Frey (1946 [key]), D.K. McAlpine (1987d [general]), Ozerov (1987 [pre-adult stages]), Papp & Ozerov (1998 [general]).
References to the local fauna. No recent references.
How to quote this page: Beuk, P.L.Th., 2018. Family Acartophthalmidae. In: Beuk, P.L.Th. (Ed.): Checklist of the Diptera of the Netherlands, https://diptera-info.nl/news.php?fam=Acartophthalmidae (date accessed: 13/05/2025).
NL: 2
B: 1
D: 2, 1I
UK: 2
World: 3
ACARTOPHTHALMIDAE
Acartophthalmus Czerny, 1902
bicolor Oldenberg, 1910
N; will be formally added by Beuk et al. (in prep.)
Note 1
nigrinus (Zetterstedt, 1848)
N; will be formally added by Beuk et al. (in prep.)
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