Pantophthalmidae

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: Stratiomyomorpha

Familia: Pantophthalmidae
Genera (2): Opetiops – Pantophthalmus

[source: Catalogue of Life: 2013 Annual Checklist]

In synonymy (1): Atopomyia
Name

Pantophthalmidae

References

Val, F.C. 1976: Systematics and evolution of the Pantophthalmidae (Diptera, Brachycera). Arquivos de zoologia, 27 (2): 51–164. full text and pdf
Wolff, Marta I., Ramos-Pastrana, Y. & Vallejo, F. 2016. FAMILY PANTOPHTHALMIDAE. In {{aut|Wolff, M.I., Nihei, S.S. & Carvalho, C.J.B. de (eds.), Catalogue of Diptera of Colombia. Zootaxa 4122(1): 306–311. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4122.1.25. Reference page.

Pantophthalmidae (sometimes spelled as Panthophthalmidae) is a small family of very large, robust flies, sometimes referred to as timber flies. There are 21 known species in two genera in the family, all of Neotropical distribution. Superficially they resemble horse flies, but are only distantly related; they are most closely related to the soldier flies (Stratiomyidae). The larvae feed by boring into living wood, an unusual habit for Diptera, and can sometimes be pests. The adult stage is brief and does not feed at all, and most active at dusk.
References

Val, F. C. 1976. Systematics and Evolution of the Pantophthalmidae (Diptera, Brachycera). Arqu. Zool. São Paulo. 27:51-164.