Mycetophilidae is a family of small

flies Flies are insects of the Order (biology), order Diptera, the name being derived from the Ancient Greek, Greek δι- ''di-'' "two", and πτερόν ''pteron'' "wing". Insects of this order use only a single pair of wings to fly, the hindwin ...

, 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 ; or funguses) is any member of the group of eukaryotic organisms that includes microorganisms such as yeasts and mold (fungus), molds, as well as the more familiar mushrooms. These organisms are classified as one ...

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

thorax The thorax (: thoraces or thoraxes) or chest is a part of the anatomy of 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 di ...

, 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 betwe ...

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

genitalia A sex organ, also known as a reproductive organ, is a part of an organism that is involved in sexual reproduction. Sex organs constitute the primary sex characteristics of an organism. Sex organs are responsible for producing and transporting ...

. The terrestrial

larva A larva (; : larvae ) is a distinct juvenile form many animals undergo before metamorphosis into their next life stage. Animals with indirect development such as insects, some arachnids, amphibians, or cnidarians typically have a larval phase ...

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

spore In biology, a spore is a unit of sexual reproduction, sexual (in fungi) or asexual reproduction that may be adapted for biological dispersal, dispersal and for survival, often for extended periods of time, in unfavourable conditions. Spores fo ...

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 o ...

e, but some species have been recorded on

moss Mosses are small, non-vascular plant, non-vascular flowerless plants in the taxonomic phylum, division Bryophyta (, ) ''sensu stricto''. Bryophyta (''sensu lato'', Wilhelm Philippe Schimper, Schimp. 1879) may also refer to the parent group bryo ...

es and

liverworts Liverworts are a group of non-vascular plant, non-vascular embryophyte, land plants forming the division Marchantiophyta (). They may also be referred to as hepatics. Like mosses and hornworts, they have a gametophyte-dominant life cycle, in wh ...

. The larvae of some species, while still being associated with fungi, are at least partly

predatory Predation is a biological interaction in which one organism, the predator, kills and eats another organism, its prey. It is one of a family of common feeding behaviours that includes parasitism and micropredation (which usually do not kill ...

. Some species are attracted to the fungus smell of Jack-in-the-Pulpit, fall into their inflorescences and accomplish their pollination.

Description

Adult Mycetophilidae 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 emission of light during a chemiluminescence reaction by living organisms. Bioluminescence occurs in multifarious organisms ranging from marine vertebrates and invertebrates, as well as in some Fungus, fungi, microorgani ...

. In some species, this is restricted to the

l stage, but in others this feature is retained by the

pupa A pupa (; : 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 their life cycle, the stages th ...

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 (at least some of the time) on or inside another organism, the host, causing it some harm, and is adapted structurally to this way of life. The en ...

. These are not mycetophilids '' sensu stricto'', but belong to the family

Keroplatidae Keroplatidae is a family of small flies known as fungus gnats. About 950 species are described, but the true number of species is undoubtedly much higher. The long-beaked fungus gnats, formerly placed in a separate family Lygistorrhinidae, hav ...

Fossil record

Mycetophilids, including some extant genera, are well represented in

amber Amber is fossilized tree resin. Examples of it have been appreciated for its color and natural beauty since the Neolithic times, and worked as a gemstone since antiquity."Amber" (2004). In Maxine N. Lurie and Marc Mappen (eds.) ''Encyclopedia ...

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 143.1 to 66 mya (unit), million years ago (Mya). It is the third and final period of the Mesozoic Era (geology), Era, as well as the longest. At around 77.1 million years, it is the ...

period at the latest.

Taxonomy

Some 800 species (including some of the bioluminescent species) were split into a separate family by Tuomikoski (1966),

. 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'' contain about 330 described genera. These include: *'' Acnemia'' 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'' 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, 1856 *'' Baeopterogyna'' Vockeroth, 1972 *'' Baisodicrana'' Blagoderov, 1995 *'' Boletina'' Stæger, 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, 1940 *'' Coelophthinia'' Edwards, 1941 *'' Coelosia'' Winnertz, 1863 *'' Cordyla'' Meigen, 1803 *'' Cowanomyia'' Jaschhof & Jaschhof, 2009 *'' Creagdhubhia'' 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'' Edwards, 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'' Edwards, 1941 *'' Hadroneura'' Lundström, 1906 *'' Hemisphaeronotus'' Saigusa, 2007 *'' Hemolia'' Blagoderov & Grimaldi, 2004 *'' Impleta'' Plassmann, 1978 *'' Indoleia'' Edwards, 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 Curtis or Curtiss is a common English given name and surname of Anglo-Norman origin, deriving from the Old French ''curteis'' (Modern French">-4; we might wonder whether there's a point at which it's appropriate to talk of the beginnings of Fren ...

, 1831 *'' Loewiella'' Meunier, 1894 *'' Lusitanoneura'' Ribeiro & Chandler, 2007 *'' Macrobrachius'' *''

Macrocera ''Macrocera'' is a genus of predatory fungus gnats in the family Keroplatidae Keroplatidae is a family of small flies known as fungus gnats. About 950 species are described, but the true number of species is undoubtedly much higher. The lo ...

'' *'' 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'' *'' Synapha'' *'' Synplasta'' *'' Syntemna'' *'' Tarnania'' *'' Tasmanina'' *'' Taxicnemis'' *'' Tetragoneura'' *'' Trichonta'' *'' Trichoterga'' *'' Trizygia'' *'' Xenoplatyura'' *'' Zygomyia'' *'' 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 {{Authority control Bioluminescent insects Keroplatidae Nematocera families Taxa named by Edward Newman Articles containing video clips