Moth fly

Psychodidae, called drain flies, sink flies, filter flies, sewer flies, or sewer gnats, is a family of true flies. Some genera have short, hairy bodies and wings giving them a "furry" moth-like appearance, hence one of their common names, moth flies. Members of the sub-family Phlebotominae which are hematophagous (feed on blood) may be called sand flies in some countries, although this term is also used for other unrelated flies.

There are more than 2,600 described species worldwide, most of them native to the humid tropics. This makes them one of the most diverse families of their order. Drain flies sometimes inhabit plumbing drains and sewage systems, where they are harmless, but may be a persistent annoyance.

Life cycle

The larvae of the subfamilies Psychodinae, Sycoracinae and Horaiellinae live in aquatic to semi-terrestrial or sludge-based habitats, including bathroom sinks, where they feed on bacteria and can become problematic. The larvae of the most commonly encountered species are nearly transparent with a non-retractable black head and can sometimes be seen moving along the moist edges of crevices in shower stalls or bathtubs or submerged in toilet water. The larval form of the moth fly is usually between long, and is shaped like a long, thin, somewhat flattened cylinder. The body lacks prolegs, but the body segments are divided into a series of rings called ''annuli'' (singular is ''annulus''). Some of these rings will have characteristic plates on the dorsal side. The larval thorax is not significantly larger than its abdomen, giving it a more "worm-like" appearance than that of most aquatic insect larvae.

In some species, the larvae can secure themselves to surfaces of their environment using "attachment disks" on their ventral side. Like mosquito larvae, they cannot absorb oxygen through water, and instead breathe via a small dark tube (a spiracle) on their posterior end — they must regularly reach the surface to obtain oxygen. The larval stage lasts for between 9 and 15 days, depending on species, temperature, and environment. There are four instar stages.
In small numbers, the larvae are sometimes considered beneficial, as their strong jaws can cut through the hair and sludge waste in drains which might otherwise form clogs. However, unless this sludge layer is removed entirely, the adult flies will continue to find it and lay more eggs.

While the biting midges also have larvae that have no prolegs and which also have attachment disks, the larvae of the netwinged midges can be distinguished from those of the moth fly by the multiple deep lateral constrictions of the latter.

The pupal stage lasts between 20 and 40 hours. During this stage, the insect does not feed, but stays submerged near the water surface, still breathing through a spiracle, and soon metamorphoses into an adult fly, which bursts through a seam in the pupal casing and emerges onto the water's surface.

The adults are half as long as the larvae, but are much broader in appearance, with a pair of hairy wings held pitched-roof-like over the body. The wings have the most elementary venation of any of the Diptera, having little more than a series of parallel veins without crossveins.

The adults are typically nocturnal, though they orient themselves around lights and may appear to be attracted to light and odors. They are erratic fliers, and are often seen walking or running rapidly as well as taking flight. They are most active at night, but may also be seen during daylight, or near windows, lights, or illuminated display panels.

The adults live for about 20 days, during which they will breed only once, often within hours of emerging from their pupal casings. Females will lay their eggs (between 30 and 100) just above the water line inside moist drains. Within 48 hours these eggs hatch into drain worms, the larval form.

File:Psychodidae SEM top view.tif, Psychodidae SEM top view
File:Psychodidae SEM rear view.tif, Psychodidae SEM rear view
File:Psychodidae SEM view from left.tif, Psychodidae SEM view from left
File:Psychodidae SEM front view.tif, high resolution SEM image of Psychodidae (drain- or moth flies), front view
File:Psychodidae SEM whiskers.tif, high resolution SEM image of Psychodidae (drain- or moth flies) whiskers segments
File:Psychodidae leg.tif, high resolution SEM image of Psychodidae (drain- or moth flies) leg

Health effects

The drain flies which are commonly found in bathrooms, '' Clogmia albipunctata'', are not known to carry any human diseases, but have been known to be an opportunistic agent of myiasis. However, the subfamily of Phlebotominae does feed on blood with the ability to transmit (tropical) diseases, and ''Sycorax silacea'' can transmit microfilaria. Inhalation of insect fragments may cause respiratory asthma.

Taxonomy

up'' Mandalayia beumersorum''

This family has seven subfamilies that contain more than 2600 described species.

*Horaiellinae Enderlein, 1937
**'' Horaiella'' Tonnoir, 1933
**'' Protohoraiella'' Curler, Krzeminski & Skibinska, 2019 Burmese amber, Myanmar Late Cretaceous ( Cenomanian)
* Bruchomyiinae Alexander, 1921 - selected genera:
**'' Alexanderia'' Wagner & Kvifte, 2018 (Oriental)
**'' Boreofairchildia'' Wagner & Stuckenberg, 2016 ( Americas)
**''Bruchomyia'' Alexander, 1921 (South America):
**''Eutonnoiria'' Alexander, 1940 (Central Africa)
**''Laurenceomyia'' Wagner & Stuckenberg, 2016 (South America)
**'' Nemopalpus'' Macquart, 1838
**''Notofairchildia'' Wagner & Stuckenberg, 2016
**'' Hoffeinsodes'' Wagner, 2017 Baltic amber, Eocene
**'' Palaeoglaesum'' Wagner, 2017 Burmese amber, Myanmar
* Phlebotominae Rondani, 1840
**'' Australophlebotomus'' Theodor, 1948
**'' Bichromomyia'' Artemiev, 1991
**'' Brumptomyia'' França & Parrot, 1921 (Mexico to South America)
**'' Chinius'' Leng, 1985 (2 species: China, Thailand)
**'' Dampfomyia'' Addis, 1945
**'' Datzia'' Stebner et al., 2015 (Burmese amber, Cenomanian)
**'' Deanemyia'' Galati, 1995
**''Evandromyia'' Mangabeira, 1941
**'' Edentomyia'' Galati, Andrade-Filho, da Silva & Falcão, 2003 (Brazil)
**'' Expapillata'' Galati, 1995
**'' Hertigia'' Fairchild, 1949
**'' Idiophlebotomus'' Quate & Fairchild, 1961
**'' Libanophlebotomus'' Azar et al., 1999 Lebanese amber Early Cretaceous (Barremian)
**'' Lutzomyia'' França, 1924 (North and South America)
**'' Mandalayia'' Stebner et al., 2015 (Burmese amber, Cenomanian)
**'' Martinsmyia'' Galati, 1995
**'' Mesophlebotomites'' Azar et al., 1999 Lebanese amber, Barremian
**'' Micropygomyia'' Barretto, 1962
**'' Migonemyia'' Galati, 1995
**'' Nyssomyia'' Barretto, 1962
**'' Oligodontomyia'' Galati, 1995
**'' Palaeomyia'' Poinar 2004 Burmese amber, Albian
**'' Phlebotomites'' Stebner et al., 2015 Lebanese amber, Barremian, Burmese amber, Cenomanian
**'' Phlebotoiella'' Solórzano Kraemer and Wagner 2009 Cambay amber, India, Eocene
**'' Phlebotomus'' Rondani& Berté, 1840 (Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia)
**'' Pintomyia'' Costa Lima, 1932
**'' Pressatia'' Mangabeira, 1942
** Protopsychodinae Stebner et al., 2015
**'' Protopsychoda'' Azar et al., 1999 Lebanese amber, Barremian
**'' Psathyromyia'' Barretto, 1962
**'' Psychodopygus'' Mangabeira, 1941
**'' Sciopemyia'' Barretto, 1962
**'' Sergentomyia'' França & Parrot, 1920 (Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia)
**'' Trichophoromyia'' Barretto, 1962
**'' Viannamyia'' Mangabeira, 1941
**'' Warileya'' Hertig, 1948 (Central and South America)
* Protopsychodinae Stebner et al., 2015
**'' Datzia'' Stebner et al., 2015 (Burmese amber, Cenomanian)
**'' Mandalayia'' Stebner et al., 2015 (Burmese amber, Cenomanian)
**'' Protopsychoda'' Azar et al., 1999 Lebanese amber, Barremian
*Psychodinae Newman, 1834
**'' Abcharis'' Tkoc and Jezek, 2013 (= '' Notiocharis'' Eaton, 1913, preoccupied) (Australia)
**''Alloeodidicrum'' Duckhouse, 1990 (Australia)
**'' Arisemus'' Satchell, 1955
**'' Atrichobrunettia'' Satchell, 1953
**'' Australopericoma'' Vaillant, 1975
**'' Balbagathis'' Quate, 1996
**'' Bazarella'' Vaillant, 1961
**''Berdeniella'' Vaillant, 1976
**'' Boreoclytocerus'' Duckhouse, 1978
**'' Breviscapus'' Quate, 1955
**'' Brunettia'' Annandale, 1910
**''Clogmia'' Enderlein, 1937
**'' Clytocerus'' Eaton, 1904
**''Didicrum'' Enderlein, 1937
**'' Epacretron'' Quate, 1965
**''Eremolobulosa'' Duckhouse, 1990 (Australia)
**'' Eurygarka'' Quate, 1959
**''Feuerborniella'' Vaillant, 1974
**'' Gerobrunettia'' Quate & Quate, 1967
**''Lepimormia'' Enderlein, 1937
**'' Lepidiella'' Enderlein, 1937
**'' Lobulosa'' Szabo, 1960
**''Maruina'' Müller, 1895 (Americas)
**'' Matuna'' Stebner and Solórzano Kraemer 2014 Mexican amber, Miocene
**'' Megapsychoda'' Azar and Nel 2002 Crato Formation, Brazil, Early Cretaceous (Aptian)
**'' Mormia'' Enderlein, 1937
**'' Neoarisemus'' Botosaneanu & Vaillant, 1970
**'' Paleopsychoda'' Azar et al., 1999 Lebanese amber, Barremian, Jordanian amber, Albian, Taimyr amber, Russia, Albian
**'' Panimerus'' Eaton, 1913
**'' Paralibanopsychoda'' Azar and Nel 2002 Lebanese amber, Barremian
**''Paramormia'' Enderlein, 1937
**'' Parasetomima'' Duckhouse, 1968 (South America)
**'' Paratelmatoscopus'' Satchell, 1953 (Australia)
**''Pericoma'' Haliday, in Walker, 1856
**''Peripsychoda'' Enderlein, 1937
**'' Philosepedon'' Eaton, 1904 (Europe, North and Central America)
**'' Pneumia'' Enderlein, 1937 (= ''Satchelliella'' Vaillant, 1979)
**''Psychoda'' Latreille, 1796
**'' Rotundopteryx'' Duckhouse, 1990 (Australia)
**'' Saraiella'' Vaillant, 1981
**'' Setomima'' Enderlein, 1937
**'' Stupkaiella'' Vaillant, 1973
**'' Succinarisemus'' Wagner, 2002 Mexican amber, Dominican amber, Miocene
**'' Szaboiella'' Vaillant, 1979
**''Telmatoscopus'' Eaton, 1904
**'' Thornburghiella'' Vaillant, 1982
**'' Threticus'' Eaton, 1904
**'' Tinearia'' Schellenberg, 1803
**'' Tonnoiriella'' Vaillant, 1982
**''Trichopsychoda'' Tonnoir, 1922
**''Ulomyia'' Walker, 1856 (= '' Saccopterix'' Haliday, in Curtis, 1839, preoccupied)
**'' Vaillantodes'' Wagner, 2002 ( = '' Vaillantia'' Wagner, 1993, preoccupied)
**'' Wightipsychoda'' Azar 2019 Bembridge Marls, United Kingdom, Priabonian
* Sycoracinae Jung, 1954
**'' Aposycorax'' Duckhouse, 1972
**'' Palaeoparasycorax'' Stebner et al., 2015 (Burmese amber, Cenomanian)
**'' Parasycorax'' Duckhouse, 1972
**'' Sycorax'' Haliday, in Curtis, 1839
* Trichomyiinae Tonnoir, 1922
**'' Axenotrichomyia'' Azar et al., 2015 Burmese amber, Cenomanian
**'' Eatonisca'' Meunier, 1905 Baltic, Bitterfeld amber, Eocene
**'' Eotrichomyia'' Meunier Oise amber, France Eocene (Ypresian)
**''Trichomyia'' Haliday, in Curtis, 1839
**'' Xenotrichomyia'' Azar et al., 2015 New Jersey amber, Late Cretaceous ( Turonian)
*''Incertae sedis''
**'' Bamara'' Stebner et al., 2015 Burmese amber, Cenomanian
**'' Cretapsychoda'' Azar et al., 1999 Lebanese amber, Barremian
**'' Eochaoborites'' Hong, 2002 Fushun amber, China, Ypresian
**'' Eophlebotomus'' Cockerell, 1920 Lebanese amber, Barremian, Charentese amber, France, Cenomanian, Burmese amber, Cenomanian
**'' Liassopsychodina'' Ansorge, 1994 Green Series, Germany, Early Jurassic (Toarcian)
**'' Libanopsychoda'' Azar et al., 1999 Lebanese amber, Barremian
**'' Mesopsychoda'' Brauer et al., 1889 Cheremkhovskaya Formation, Russia, Toarcian
**'' Protopsychoda'' Azar et al., 1999 Lebanese amber, Barremian
**'' Tanypsycha'' Ansorge, 1994 Green Series, Germany, Toarcian
**'' Triassopsychoda'' Blagoderov and Grimaldi. 2007 Cow Branch Formation)
**'' Xenopsychoda'' Azar and Ziadé, 2005 Lebanese amber, Barremian

See also

* Fungus gnat
* ''Trichomyia lengleti''

References

Further reading

* Quate, L.W. & B.V. Brown (2004)
"Revision of Neotropical Setomimini (Diptera: Psychodidae: Psychodinae)"
''Contributions in Science'', 500: 1–117
BioStor
.
* Vaillant, F. (1971). "Psychodidae–Psychodinae". In: E. Lindner, ed. ''Die Fliegen der Paläarktischen Region'', 9d, Lieferung 287: 1–48.
* Young, D.G. & P.V. Perkins (1984). "Phlebotomine sand flies of North America (Diptera: Psychodidae)". ''Mosquito News'', 44: 263–304.

External links

Wing venation



Diptera.info Gallery

Waarneming Gallery

{{Authority control

Nematocera families
Taxa named by Edward Newman