Eurychoromyiidae
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| Eurychoromyia mallea Hendel, 1910 |
The Eurychoromyiidae or Broad-headed Flies are a dipteran family notable only for their extreme rarity.
In 1903 C. A. W. Schnuse, collecting at Sarampiuni in the foothills of the Bolivian Andes, took 4 specimens, all female, of a fly with a strange broad, flat head. These were described as a new species Eurychoromyia mallea (ευρυς - broad; χορος - field; μυια - fly; malleus - hammer) by the Austrian entomologist F. Hendel who rated them as "an isolated group of acalyptrate muscids". His judgement has been sustained, and they are now recognised as belonging to a distinct family Eurychoromyiidae. No other specimens have ever been identified as belonging to this family.
Classification has proved difficult, the absence of any male specimens adding to the difficulties. Following Hennig (1958) they are here tentatively included in the superfamily Lauxanioidea.
External links
- Broad-headed flies - USDA (http://www.sel.barc.usda.gov/diptera/minorfam/eurychor.htm) - with illustrations & bibliography