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
The Phlebotominae are a subfamily of the family Psychodidae. In several countries, their common name is sandfly; but that name is also applied to other flies. The Phlebotominae include many genera of blood-feeding (hematophagous) flies, includi ...
which are
hematophagous
Hematophagy (sometimes spelled haematophagy or hematophagia) is the practice by certain animals of feeding on blood (from the Greek words αἷμα ' "blood" and φαγεῖν ' "to eat"). Since blood is a fluid tissue rich in nutritious p ...
(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
Mosquitoes (or mosquitos) are members of a group of almost 3,600 species of small flies within the family Culicidae (from the Latin ''culex'' meaning " gnat"). The word "mosquito" (formed by ''mosca'' and diminutive ''-ito'') is Spanish for "li ...
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
An instar (, from the Latin '' īnstar'', "form", "likeness") is a developmental stage of arthropods, such as insects, between each moult (''ecdysis''), until sexual maturity is reached. Arthropods must shed the exoskeleton in order to grow or ...
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 midge
Ceratopogonidae is a family of flies commonly known as no-see-ums, or biting midges, generally in length. The family includes more than 5,000 species, distributed worldwide, apart from the Antarctic and the Arctic.
Ceratopogonidae are holomet ...
s 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
Venation may refer to:
* Venation (botany), the arrangement of veins in leaves
* Wing venation, the arrangement of veins in insect wings
See also
*
* Vernation
Vernation (from ''vernal'' meaning ''spring'', since that is when leaves spring fort ...
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
Myiasis is the parasitic infestation of the body of a live animal by fly larvae (maggots) which grow inside the host while feeding on its tissue. Although flies are most commonly attracted to open wounds and urine- or feces-soaked fur, some spe ...
. However, the subfamily of
Phlebotominae
The Phlebotominae are a subfamily of the family Psychodidae. In several countries, their common name is sandfly; but that name is also applied to other flies. The Phlebotominae include many genera of blood-feeding (hematophagous) flies, includi ...
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
Burmese amber, also known as Burmite or Kachin amber, is amber from the Hukawng Valley in northern Myanmar. The amber is dated to around 100 million years ago, during the latest Albian to earliest Cenomanian ages of the mid-Cretaceous period. The ...
, Myanmar Late Cretaceous (
Cenomanian)
*
Bruchomyiinae Alexander
Alexander is a male given name. The most prominent bearer of the name is Alexander the Great, the king of the Ancient Greek kingdom of Macedonia who created one of the largest empires in ancient history.
Variants listed here are Aleksandar, Al ...
, 1921 - selected genera:
**''
Alexanderia''
Wagner & Kvifte, 2018 (Oriental)
**''
Boreofairchildia''
Wagner & Stuckenberg, 2016 (
Americas
The Americas, which are sometimes collectively called America, are a landmass comprising the totality of North and South America. The Americas make up most of the land in Earth's Western Hemisphere and comprise the New World.
Along with th ...
)
**''
Bruchomyia''
Alexander
Alexander is a male given name. The most prominent bearer of the name is Alexander the Great, the king of the Ancient Greek kingdom of Macedonia who created one of the largest empires in ancient history.
Variants listed here are Aleksandar, Al ...
, 1921 (South America):
**''
Eutonnoiria''
Alexander
Alexander is a male given name. The most prominent bearer of the name is Alexander the Great, the king of the Ancient Greek kingdom of Macedonia who created one of the largest empires in ancient history.
Variants listed here are Aleksandar, Al ...
, 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
The Phlebotominae are a subfamily of the family Psychodidae. In several countries, their common name is sandfly; but that name is also applied to other flies. The Phlebotominae include many genera of blood-feeding (hematophagous) flies, includi ...
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
Burmese amber, also known as Burmite or Kachin amber, is amber from the Hukawng Valley in northern Myanmar. The amber is dated to around 100 million years ago, during the latest Albian to earliest Cenomanian ages of the mid-Cretaceous period. The ...
,
Cenomanian
**''
Phlebotoiella''
Solórzano Kraemer and Wagner 2009 Cambay amber
Cambay, Kambay or Khambhat was a princely state in India during the British Raj. The City of Khambat (Cambay) in present-day Gujarat was its capital. The state was bounded in the north by the Kaira district and in the south by the Gulf of C ...
, 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'' S
tebner 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
The Miocene ( ) is the first epoch (geology), geological epoch of the Neogene Period and extends from about (Ma). The Miocene was named by Scottish geologist Charles Lyell; the name comes from the Greek words (', "less") and (', "new") and mea ...
**''
Megapsychoda''
Azar and Nel 2002 Crato Formation
The Crato Formation is a geologic formation of Early Cretaceous (Aptian) age in northeastern Brazil's Araripe Basin. It is an important Lagerstätte (undisturbed fossil accumulation) for palaeontologists. The strata were laid down mostly during ...
, Brazil, Early Cretaceous (
Aptian)
**''
Mormia''
Enderlein, 1937
**''
Neoarisemus''
Botosaneanu & Vaillant, 1970
**''
Paleopsychoda''
Azar et al., 1999 Lebanese amber, Barremian,
Jordanian amber,
Albian
The Albian is both an age of the geologic timescale and a stage in the stratigraphic column. It is the youngest or uppermost subdivision of the Early/Lower Cretaceous Epoch/ Series. Its approximate time range is 113.0 ± 1.0 Ma to 100.5 ± 0 ...
,
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
Walker or The Walker may refer to:
People
* Walker (given name)
*Walker (surname)
* Walker (Brazilian footballer) (born 1982), Brazilian footballer
Places
In the United States
*Walker, Arizona, in Yavapai County
*Walker, Mono County, California ...
, 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
Schellenberg is a municipality in the lowland area of Liechtenstein, on the banks of the Rhine. , it has a population of 1,107 and covers an area of
History Early history
The area was first settled by Celts, then by Rhaetians. Rome conquere ...
, 1803
**''
Tonnoiriella''
Vaillant, 1982
**''
Trichopsychoda''
Tonnoir, 1922
**''
Ulomyia''
Walker
Walker or The Walker may refer to:
People
* Walker (given name)
*Walker (surname)
* Walker (Brazilian footballer) (born 1982), Brazilian footballer
Places
In the United States
*Walker, Arizona, in Yavapai County
*Walker, Mono County, California ...
, 1856 (= ''
Saccopterix''
Haliday, in Curtis
Curtis or Curtiss is a common English given name and surname of Anglo-Norman origin from the Old French ''curteis'' ( Modern French ''courtois'') which derived from the Spanish Cortés (of which Cortez is a variation) and the Portuguese and Ga ...
, 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
Burmese amber, also known as Burmite or Kachin amber, is amber from the Hukawng Valley in northern Myanmar. The amber is dated to around 100 million years ago, during the latest Albian to earliest Cenomanian ages of the mid-Cretaceous period. The ...
, Cenomanian)
**''
Parasycorax''
Duckhouse, 1972
**''
Sycorax''
Haliday, in Curtis
Curtis or Curtiss is a common English given name and surname of Anglo-Norman origin from the Old French ''curteis'' ( Modern French ''courtois'') which derived from the Spanish Cortés (of which Cortez is a variation) and the Portuguese and Ga ...
, 1839
*
Trichomyiinae Tonnoir, 1922
**''
Axenotrichomyia''
Azar et al., 2015 Burmese amber
Burmese amber, also known as Burmite or Kachin amber, is amber from the Hukawng Valley in northern Myanmar. The amber is dated to around 100 million years ago, during the latest Albian to earliest Cenomanian ages of the mid-Cretaceous period. The ...
, Cenomanian
**''
Eatonisca''
Meunier, 1905 Baltic,
Bitterfeld amber, Eocene
**''
Eotrichomyia'' Meunier
Oise amber, France Eocene (
Ypresian)
**''
Trichomyia''
Haliday, in Curtis
Curtis or Curtiss is a common English given name and surname of Anglo-Norman origin from the Old French ''curteis'' ( Modern French ''courtois'') which derived from the Spanish Cortés (of which Cortez is a variation) and the Portuguese and Ga ...
, 1839
**''
Xenotrichomyia''
Azar et al., 2015 New Jersey amber, Late Cretaceous (
Turonian)
*''
Incertae sedis
' () or ''problematica'' is a term used for a taxonomic group where its broader relationships are unknown or undefined. Alternatively, such groups are frequently referred to as "enigmatic taxa". In the system of open nomenclature, uncertain ...
''
**''
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, North Carolina, Late Triassic (
Norian)
**''
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 venationDiptera.info GalleryWaarneming Gallery
{{Authority control
Nematocera families
Taxa named by Edward Newman