The Mycetophilidae are a family of small

flies Flies are insects of the order Diptera, the name being derived from the Greek δι- ''di-'' "two", and πτερόν ''pteron'' "wing". Insects of this order use only a single pair of wings to fly, the hindwings having evolved into advanced m ...

, forming the bulk of those species known as

fungus gnat Fungus gnats are small, dark, short-lived gnats, of the families Sciaridae, Diadocidiidae, Ditomyiidae, Keroplatidae, Bolitophilidae, and Mycetophilidae (order Diptera); they comprise six of the seven families placed in the superfamily Sc ...

s. About 3000 described species are placed in 150 genera, but the true number of species is undoubtedly much higher. They are generally found in the damp habitats favoured by their host

fungi A fungus ( : fungi or funguses) is any member of the group of eukaryotic organisms that includes microorganisms such as yeasts and molds, as well as the more familiar mushrooms. These organisms are classified as a kingdom, separately fr ...

and sometimes form dense swarms. Adults of this family can usually be separated from other small flies by the strongly humped

thorax The thorax or chest is a part of the anatomy of humans, mammals, and other tetrapod animals located between the neck and the abdomen. In insects, crustaceans, and the extinct trilobites, the thorax is one of the three main divisions of the c ...

, well-developed coxae, and often spinose legs, but identification within the family between genera and species generally requires close study of

microscopic The microscopic scale () is the scale of objects and events smaller than those that can easily be seen by the naked eye, requiring a lens or microscope to see them clearly. In physics, the microscopic scale is sometimes regarded as the scale be ...

features such as subtle differences in wing venation and variation in chaetotaxy and

genitalia A sex organ (or reproductive organ) is any part of an animal or plant that is involved in sexual reproduction. The reproductive organs together constitute the reproductive system. In animals, the testis in the male, and the ovary in the female, a ...

. The terrestrial

larva A larva (; plural larvae ) is a distinct juvenile form many animals undergo before metamorphosis into adults. Animals with indirect development such as insects, amphibians, or cnidarians typically have a larval phase of their life cycle. ...

e usually feed on fungi, especially the fruiting bodies, but also

spore In biology, a spore is a unit of sexual or asexual reproduction that may be adapted for dispersal and for survival, often for extended periods of time, in unfavourable conditions. Spores form part of the life cycles of many plants, algae, ...

s and

hypha A hypha (; ) is a long, branching, filamentous structure of a fungus, oomycete, or actinobacterium. In most fungi, hyphae are the main mode of vegetative growth, and are collectively called a mycelium. Structure A hypha consists of one or ...

e, but some species have been recorded on

moss Mosses are small, non-vascular flowerless plants in the taxonomic division Bryophyta (, ) '' sensu stricto''. Bryophyta ('' sensu lato'', Schimp. 1879) may also refer to the parent group bryophytes, which comprise liverworts, mosses, and ...

es and

liverworts The Marchantiophyta () are a division of non-vascular land plants commonly referred to as hepatics or liverworts. Like mosses and hornworts, they have a gametophyte-dominant life cycle, in which cells of the plant carry only a single set of ...

. The larvae of some species, while still being associated with fungi, are at least partly predatory. Some species are attracted to the fungus smell of Jack-in-the-Pulpit, fall into their inflorescences and accomplish their pollination.

Description

Adult mosquitoes sometimes gather in great numbers in various hiding places, under tree roots and holes, and in general they are the most common insects in our forests. However, due to their small size and inconspicuous coloration, they are rarely known or noticed. On the other hand, the larvae of mushroom eaters are known to all, since they form the main population of mushrooms with worms. In addition to the fruiting bodies of cap mushrooms, they also inhabit wood fungi and can be found under the bark of decaying trees. The diet of most larvae is exclusively fungal, but some members of this family are predators. Adults do not cause damage to plants, but lay 2 small eggs on the surface of moist soil (5-8 cm). Larvae, translucent, legless worms with a black "head" measuring 8-10 mm, later emerge from the eggs. The mouthparts are gnawing. The larvae usually develop in soil on decaying plant tissue. However, under indoor conditions they often lack feeding substratum, so they gnaw at tender young roots and underground shoots of plants. This is the main hazard. The occurrence of large numbers of fungal mosquitoes in the garden will lead to an exponential increase in larval numbers, which in turn will result in root damage that leads to yellowing of leaves, loss of energy to the plant and often a significant reduction in garden productivity. The larvae can also be carriers of diseases that infect plants, in some cases resulting in a total loss of crops. Although fungus mosquitoes are generally more of an annoyance than a threat, their presence should be taken seriously and measures to control and eliminate this pest should be started as soon as possible after detection.

Bioluminescence

Around a dozen mycetophilid species are unique among flies in displaying

bioluminescence Bioluminescence is the production and emission of light by living organisms. It is a form of chemiluminescence. Bioluminescence occurs widely in marine vertebrates and invertebrates, as well as in some fungi, microorganisms including some b ...

. In some species, this is restricted to the

larval A larva (; plural larvae ) is a distinct juvenile form many animals undergo before metamorphosis into adults. Animals with indirect development such as insects, amphibians, or cnidarians typically have a larval phase of their life cycle. The ...

stage, but in others this feature is retained by the

pupa A pupa ( la, pupa, "doll"; plural: ''pupae'') is the life stage of some insects undergoing transformation between immature and mature stages. Insects that go through a pupal stage are holometabolous: they go through four distinct stages in thei ...

e and adults. The ability to produce their own light may be used by some predatory larvae as a lure for potential prey, although it also obviously makes them more susceptible to predation or

parasitism Parasitism is a close relationship between species, where one organism, the parasite, lives on or inside another organism, the host, causing it some harm, and is adapted structurally to this way of life. The entomologist E. O. Wilson ha ...

. These are not mycetophilids ''

sensu stricto ''Sensu'' is a Latin word meaning "in the sense of". It is used in a number of fields including biology, geology, linguistics, semiotics, and law. Commonly it refers to how strictly or loosely an expression is used in describing any particular c ...

'', but belong to the family Keroplatidae.

Fossil record

Mycetophilids, including some extant genera, are well represented in

amber Amber is fossilized tree resin that has been appreciated for its color and natural beauty since Neolithic times. Much valued from antiquity to the present as a gemstone, amber is made into a variety of decorative objects."Amber" (2004). In M ...

deposits and the group appears to have been well established and diversified by the

Cretaceous The Cretaceous ( ) is a geological period that lasted from about 145 to 66 million years ago (Mya). It is the third and final period of the Mesozoic Era, as well as the longest. At around 79 million years, it is the longest geological period of ...

period at the latest.

Taxonomy

Some 800 species (including some of the bioluminescent species) have been split into a separate family by Tuomikoski in 1966, Keroplatidae. This split is not universally recognized as yet, and many sources still include the keroplatid genera within the Mycetophilidae. Other recent families, included here in Mycetophilidae as they are not recognized by all workers are Ditomyiidae, Lygistorrhinidae, Diadocidiidae, and Rangomaramidae. The Mycetophilidae ''

sensu lato ''Sensu'' is a Latin word meaning "in the sense of". It is used in a number of fields including biology, geology, linguistics, semiotics, and law. Commonly it refers to how strictly or loosely an expression is used in describing any particular c ...

'' contain about 330 described genera. These include: *''

Acnemia ''Acnemia'' is a genus of fly belonging to the family Mycetophilidae. The genus was first described by Winnertz in 1863. The genus has almost cosmopolitan distribution. Species *''Acnemia aino'' Okada, 1939 *''Acnemia angusta'' Zaitzev, 1982 * ...

'' Meigen, 1818 *'' Acomopterella'' Zaitzev, 1989 *'' Acrodicrania'' Skuse, 1888 *'' Adicroneura'' Vockeroth, 1980 *'' Afrocnemia'' Matile, 1998 *'' Agaromya'' Rondani, 1861 *'' Aglaomyia'' Vockeroth, 1980 *'' Alavamanota'' Blagoderov & Arillo, 2002 *'' Allactoneura'' Meijere, 1907 *'' Allocotocera'' Mik, 1886 *''

Allodia ''Allodia'' is a genus of flies belonging to the family Mycetophilidae. The genus was described in 1863 by Winnertz. The genus has cosmopolitan distribution. Selected species: * ''Allodia ablata'' Zaitzev, 1984 * ''Allodia actuaria'' Johannsen ...

'' Winnertz, 1863 *'' Allodiopsis'' Tuomikoski, 1966 *'' Anaclileia'' Meunier, 1904 *'' Anatella'' Winnertz, 1863 *'' Aneura'' Marshall, 1896 *'' Anomalomyia'' Hutton, 1904 *'' Aphrastomyia'' Coher & Lane, 1949 *'' Apolephthisa'' Grzegorzek, 1885 *'' Archaeboletina'' Meunier, 1904 *'' Armbrusteleia'' Evenhuis, 1994 *'' Aspidionia'' Colless, 1966 *'' Atalosciophila'' Ren, 1995 *'' Ateleia'' Skuse, 1888 *'' Austrosciophila'' Tonnoir, 1929 *'' Austrosynapha'' Tonnoir, 1929 *'' Aysenmyia'' Duret, 1979 *'' Azana''

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 *'' Baeopterogyna'' Vockeroth, 1972 *'' Baisodicrana'' Blagoderov, 1995 *'' Boletina'' Staeger, 1840 *'' Boletiniella'' Matile, 1973 *'' Bolithomya'' Rondani, 1856 *'' Boraceomyia'' Lane, 1948 *'' Brachydicrania'' Skuse, 1888 *'' Brachypeza'' Winnertz, 1863 *'' Brachyradia'' Ševcík & Kjaerandsen, 2012 *'' Brevicornu'' Marshall, 1896 *'' Caledonileia'' Matile, 1993 *'' Callicypta'' Lane, 1954 *'' Cawthronia'' Tonnoir & Edwards, 1927 *'' Celebesomyia'' Saigusa, 1973 *'' Chalastonepsia'' Søli, 1996 *'' Clastobasis'' Skuse, 1890 *'' Cluzobra''

Edwards Edwards may refer to: People * Edwards (surname) * Edwards family, a prominent family from Chile * Edwards Barham (1937-2014), a former member of the Louisiana State Senate * Edwards Pierrepont (1817–1892), an American attorney, jurist, and or ...

, 1940 *'' Coelophthinia''

, 1941 *'' Coelosia'' Winnertz, 1863 *'' Cordyla'' Meigen, 1803 *'' Cowanomyia'' Jaschhof & Jaschhof, 2009 *''

Creagdhubhia ''Creagdhubhia'' is a monotypic genus of flies belonging to the family Mycetophilidae The Mycetophilidae are a family of small flies, forming the bulk of those species known as fungus gnats. About 3000 described species are placed in 150 gene ...

'' Chandler, 1999 *'' Cycloneura'' Marshall, 1896 *'' Deimyia'' Kallweit, 2002: *'' Dianepsia'' Loew, 1850 *'' Dinempheria'' Matile, 1979 *'' Disparoleia'' Blagoderov & Grimaldi, 2004 *'' Docosia'' Winnertz, 1863 *'' Dongbeimyceta'' Hong, 2002 *'' Drepanorzeckia'' Blagoderov, 1997 *'' Duretophragma'' Borkent, 2013 *'' Dynatosoma'' Winnertz, 1863 *'' Echinopodium'' Freeman, 1951 *'' Ectrepesthoneura'' Enderlein, 1910 *'' Ekhiritus'' Blagoderov, 1995 *'' Eoexechia'' Camier & Nel, 2020 *'' Eomyceta'' Hong, 2002 *'' Eosciophila'' Hong, 1974 *'' Epicypta'' Winnertz, 1863 *'' Eudicrana'' Loew, 187 *'' Eumanota''

, 1933 *'' Exechia'' Winnertz, 1863 *'' Exechiites'' Blagoderov, 2000 *'' Exechiopsis'' Tuomikoski, 1966 *'' Fushunoboleta'' Hong, 2002 *'' Gaalomyia'' Blagoderov & Grimaldi, 2004 *'' Garrettella'' Vockeroth, 1980 *'' Gnoriste'' Meigen, 1818 *'' Gracilileia'' Matile, 1993 *'' Greenomyia'' Brunetti, 1912 *'' Gregikia'' Blagoderov & Grimaldi, 2004 *'' Grzegorzekia''

, 1941 *'' Hadroneura'' Lundström, 1906 *'' Hemisphaeronotus'' Saigusa, 2007 *'' Hemolia'' Blagoderov & Grimaldi, 2004 *'' Impleta'' Plassmann, 1978 *'' Indoleia''

, 1928 *'' Ipsaneusidalys'' Blagoderov, 1998 *'' Izleiina'' Blagoderov & Grimaldi, 2004 *'' Jugazana'' Coher, 1995 *'' Katatopygia'' Martinsson & Kjaerandsen, 2012 *'' Lecadonileia'' Blagoderov & Grimaldi, 2004 *'' Leia'' Meigen, 1818 *'' Leiella'' Enderlein, 1910 *'' Leptomorphus'' Curtis, 1831 *'' Loewiella'' Meunier, 1894 *'' Lusitanoneura'' Ribeiro & Chandler, 2007 *'' Macrobrachius'' *'' Macrocera'' *'' Macrorrhyncha'' *'' Manota'' *'' Megalopelma'' *'' Megophthalmidia'' *'' Micromacrocera'' *'' Monoclona'' *'' Morganiella'' *'' Mycetophila'' *'' Mycomya'' *'' Myrosia'' *'' Neoallocotocera'' *'' Neoaphelomera'' *'' Neoclastobasis'' *'' Neoempheria'' *'' Neotrizygia'' *'' Neuratelia'' *'' Notolopha'' *'' Novakia'' *'' Orfelia'' *'' Palaeodocosia'' *'' Paleoplatyura'' *'' Paracycloneura'' *'' Paraleia'' *'' Paramorganiella'' *'' Paratinia'' *'' Paratrizygia'' *'' Parvicellula'' *'' Phoenikiella'' *'' Phronia'' *'' Phthinia'' *'' Platurocypta'' *'' Platyura'' *'' Polylepta'' *'' Pseudalysiina'' *'' Pseudexechia'' *'' Pseudobrachypeza'' *'' Pseudorymosia'' *'' Rondaniella'' *'' Rymosia'' *'' Saigusaia'' *'' Sceptonia'' *'' Sciophila'' *'' Sigmoleia'' *'' Speolepta'' *'' Stenophragma'' *'' Sticholeia'' *'' Stigmatomeria'' *''

Symmerus ''Symmerus'' is a genus of fungus gnats and gall midges in the family Ditomyiidae. There are about five described species in ''Symmerus''. Species *'' S. akikoae'' Saigusa, 1973 *'' S. annulatus'' ( Meigen, 1830) *'' S. antennalis'' Okada, 1936 * ...

'' *'' Synapha'' *'' Synplasta'' *'' Syntemna'' *'' Tarnania'' *'' Tasmanina'' *'' Taxicnemis'' *'' Tetragoneura'' *'' Trichonta'' *'' Trichoterga'' *'' Trizygia'' *'' Xenoplatyura'' *''

Zygomyia ''Zygomyia'' is a genus of fungus gnats in the family Mycetophilidae. There are at least 80 described species in ''Zygomyia''. Species These 84 species belong to the genus ''Zygomyia'': * '' Zygomyia acuta'' Tonnoir & Edwards, 1927 * '' Zygomyi ...

'' *'' Zygophronia''

Gallery

File:Mycetophila.fungorum.jpg, '' Mycetophila fungorum'' (De Geer, 1776) File:Neoempheria.pictipennis.jpg, '' Neoempheria pictipennis'' (Haliday, 1833) File:Mycetophila sp, a, Pretoria.jpg, ''Mycetophila'' sp. File:Leia sp male - 2012-06-08.ogv, ''Leia'' sp., male File:Sceptonia sp. on Impatiens - 2012-08-24.ogv, ''Sceptonia'' sp. File:Leia bivittata dorsal.jpg, '' Leia bivittata'' File:Trichonta dorsal.jpg, '' Trichonta'' sp. File:Phronia female.jpg, '' Phronia'' sp., female File:Phronia male 2.jpg, '' Phronia'' male inside Jack in the pulpit flower File:Trichonta side.jpg, ''Trichonta'' inside Jack in the pulpit flower

Catalogues

*Evenhuis, N. L. 2006. ''Catalog of the Keroplatidae of the World (Insecta: Diptera)''. Bishop Museum Bulletin in Entomology 13. Bishop Museum Press, Honolulu. 1–17
Online here

References

External links

Fungus Gnats OnlineDiptera.info
Images {{Taxonbar, from=Q1697984 Bioluminescent insects Keroplatidae Nematocera families Taxa named by Edward Newman Articles containing video clips