Diagnosis. Small, 2.0-5.0 mm long flies. Body dark. Head without distinct vibrissae, shortest distance between eyes below antennae. Antennae with second segment overhanging third segment; third segment short and arista plumose. Wings with two costal breaks; membrane hyaline or with weak infuscations. Legs annulated. Larvae flattened dorsoventrally and with lateral processes on all segments.
Biology. Larvae living in exuding sap at wounds on deciduous trees but are apparently not found in mucous tree sap. Adults are usually found near tree wounds and feed on tree sap and males may be seen hovering near sap runs. Hibernation takes place in the last larval instar or the pupal stage. Periscelididae are univoltine under normal circumstances, but it is suggested that very early emergence of adults may result in a late-summer generation. Unfavourable conditions for the larvae may induce dormancy until conditions improve. Possibly larvae may be overwintering a second year if conditions after the first hibernation prove to be unfavourable for final development.
General references. Bächli (1997 [key]), Mathis & Papp (1998 [general, key to subgenera]), J.F. McAlpine (1987f [general]), Papp (1995 [larva], 1998a [biology]), Papp & Withers (2011 [Palaearctic revision]).
References to the local fauna. Von Tschirnhaus (1996), Papp & Withers (2011).
How to quote this page: Beuk, P.L.Th., & J.W.A. van Zuijlen, 2023. Family Periscelididae. In: Beuk, P.L.Th. (Ed.): Checklist of the Diptera of the Netherlands, https://diptera-info.nl/news.php?fam=Periscelididae (date accessed: 04/06/2026).
NL: 2
B: 9
D: 2
UK: 3
World: 66
PERISCELIDIDAE
Periscelis Loew, 1858
subg. Myodris Lioy, 1864
annulata (Fallén, 1813)
N
laszloi Roháček, 2022
N; first listed as winnertzi by Beuk & Van Zuijlen (2002: 275)
= winnertzi Egger, 1862: misident. sensu auct.
Note 1
Notes
Note 1
Misidentification pointed out by Roháček (2022: 301).
The latest revisions at different levels
The family introduction was last edited on 07-10-2014 13:20
Myodris was the last (sub)genus to be edited on 14-07-2023 11:01
Myodris winnertzi was the last (sub)species to be edited on 24-12-2022 13:43
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