Overview
This is one of the most species-rich and common of the acalyptrate families. Lauxaniid species are found in a wide variety of habitats including mangrove swamps, dunes, grasslands, forests (all types) and the summits of mountains such as Mt Kosciuszko and Mt Wellington. Three hundred and seventy described species are recorded for Australia.
Adults of many exotic species are known to feed on microfungi on vegetation, a habit that may also be common among Australian species. Adults of
Incurviseta
and some other genera are found on flowers, particularly those of alpine Asteraceae. Adults of
Paranomina
species inhabit
Xanthorrhoea
(Xanthorrhoeaceae), and immature stages probably live on the same plant. Miller (1977) listed rearing records, showing that most lauxaniid larvae live in fallen leaves or other rotting vegetation.
Sapromyza flavimana
Malloch has been reared from the nest of the scrub tit (
Acanthornis magnus
).
Description
The main diagnostic features of Lauxaniidae include:
Postocellar bristles convergent; vibrissae absent, with the exception of one species; anepisternal bristle present; vein C unbroken; all or most tibiae with pre-apical dorsal bristle.