Ctenostylidae

Life-forms

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Cladus: Unikonta
Cladus: Opisthokonta
Cladus: Holozoa
Regnum: Animalia
Subregnum: Eumetazoa
Cladus: Bilateria
Cladus: Nephrozoa
Cladus: Protostomia
Cladus: Ecdysozoa
Cladus: Panarthropoda
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Hexapoda
Classis: Insecta
Cladus: Dicondylia
Subclassis: Pterygota
Cladus: Metapterygota
Infraclassis: Neoptera
Cladus: Eumetabola
Cladus: Endopterygota
Superordo: Panorpida
Cladus: Antliophora
Ordo: Diptera
Subordo: Brachycera
Infraordo: Muscomorpha
Sectio: Schizophora
Subsectio: Acalyptrata
Superfamilia: Tephritoidea

Familia: Ctenostylidae
Genera (7): Ctenostylum – Furciseta – Lochmostylia – Nepaliseta – Ramuliseta – Sinolochmostylia – Tauroscypson
Name

Ctenostylidae Bigot, 1882
References

Rafael, J.A.; Pimentel, T. de J.; Godoi, F.S.P.; Machado, R.J.P. 2009: The enigmatic genus Ctenostylum Macquart with the description of a new species from the Brazilian Amazon Basin and a checklist of world Ctenostylidae species (Diptera). Zootaxa 2026: 63–68. Abstract & excerpt Reference page.
McAlpine, D.K. 1989: The taxonomic position of the Ctenostylidae (=Lochmostyliinae; Diptera: Schizophora). Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, 84: 365–371.
Pereira-Colavite, A.; Mello, R.L. 2014: Catalogue of the Ctenostylidae (Diptera, Schizophora) of the World. Zootaxa 3838(2): 215–223. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3838.2.6 Reference page.

The enigmatic fly family Ctenostylidae is a small group of very rare flies formerly included in the family Pyrgotidae (as the subfamily "Lochmostyliinae"); the principal reason for their inclusion in the Pyrgotidae was the absence of ocelli, a feature originally thought to be a unique defining feature ("autapomorphy") of the Pyrgotidae. Subsequent careful analysis has revealed that this anatomical feature shared with Pyrgotidae may not be indicative of a close relationship, and even the inclusion of Ctenostylidae within the superfamily Tephritoidea was cast into doubt, leaving this as the only family of Acalyptratae presently unassignable to superfamily.[1]

There are fewer than 20 described species in 7 genera in this pantropical family, all characterized not only by the lack of ocelli, but the lack of functional mouthparts, and unusual modifications of the antennal arista; it is the only family of Diptera where the arista has two or more branches. All but one of the described species are known from fewer than 10 specimens. The male antennal arista is simple and unmodified. So far as is known, females are viviparous, laying larvae instead of eggs; larval biology is unknown, but it is assumed they are parasitoids.
References

McAlpine, D.K. (1989) The taxonomic position of the Ctenostylidae (= Lochmostyliinae; Diptera: Schizophora). Mem. Inst. Oswaldo Cruz 84: 365-371