Psychodidae

Moth flies
Clogmia albipunctata
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Subphylum:	Hexapoda
Class:	Insecta
Subclass:	Pterygota
Infraclass:	Neoptera
Superorder:	Endopterygota
Order:	Diptera
Suborder:	Nematocera
Infraorder:	Psychodomorpha
Superfamily:	Psychodoidea
Family:	Psychodidae
Subfamilies
Bruchomyiinae Horaiellinae Phlebotominae Psychodinae Sycoracinae Trichomyiinae

The nematoceran family Psychodidae (moth flies or drain flies) are small true flies (Diptera) with short, hairy bodies and wings giving them a "furry" moth-like appearance. The adults have long antennae and the wings are leaf-shaped, either slender or broad, with the most elementary wing venation of any Diptera, having little more than a series of parallel veins without crossveins. Adult Psychodidae are typically nocturnal and associated with damp habitats. The larvae of the subfamilies Psychodinae, Sycoracinae and Horaiellinae live in aquatic to semi-terrestrial habitats (often with low oxygen), including bathroom sinks; some species are commonly nuisance pests in bathrooms.

The subfamily Phlebotominae includes many blood feeding species; they are inhabitants of more arid regions and are often called "sand flies" outside the USA (where "sand flies" are distantly related Nematocera of the Ceratopogonidae). This subfamily is sometimes treated as a separate family Phlebotomidae; the type genus is Phlebotomus. Phlebotominae are a very important group medically, transmitting various tropical diseases, but most importantly kala azar leishmaniasis.

In the New World, the genus incriminated for the transmission of leishmaniasis is Lutzomyia. Lu. chagasi is responsible for the visceral form, while others like Lu. gomezi and Lu. longipalpis may be responsible for transmitting the cutaneous and muco-cutaneous forms of this tropical disease.

Sycoracinae, another subfamily, is also of hematophagous habits, being parasitic on frogs. The European species Sycorax silacea Haliday in Curtis, 1839 has been shown to transmit microfilarian worms^[1]

References

• Quate, L.W. 1955. A revision of the Psychodidae (Diptera) in America north of Mexico. University of California Publications in Entomology.
• Quate, L.W. & B.V. Brown. 2004. Revision of Neotropical Setomimini (Diptera: Psychodidae: Psychodinae). Contributions in Science, 500: 1-117.
• Vaillant, F. 1971. Psychodidae - Psychodinae. In: E. Lindner, ed. Die Fliegen der Palaearktischen 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.

1. ^ Desportes, C. 1941. Forcipomyia velox Winn et Sycorax silacea Curtis, vecteurs dIcosiella neglecta (Diesing, 1850) filaire commune de la grenouille verte. Annals de Parasitologie Humaine et Compareè, 19: 53-68..

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Psychodidae

• Iziko Museum of Cape Town's Psychodidae Web Page
• Virginia Cooperative Extension
• Ohio State University Extension
• Xespok's Image Gallery
• Diptera.info Gallery

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