This is a small family of 40 or more described species occurring in most
areas of the world, although predominantly Holarctic in distribution. It
is represented in the Australasian/Oceanian regions by only 4 described
species in 2 genera, all but 1 from Hawaii (Hardy & Delfinado 1980). The subfamily Nannodastiinae, previously treated here, is now in its own family Nannodastiidae.
Little is known of the life histories of the Australasian/Oceanian species.
Colless & McAlpine (1970) recorded adults of Aphaniosoma spp.
from flowers of Hibiscus and closely related plants in Australia,
while larvae of 1 species have been collected in bat guano in caves. An
undescribed species of Aphaniosoma occurs in Australia and Papua
New Guinea on flowers of Santalum in dry country (D.K. McAlpine, in litt.) Adults of A. macalpinei have been collected on Scaveola
frutescens and in light traps, and adults of Gymnochiromyia hawaiiensis have been collected mostly on windows as well as on Acacia and at
light.
Ref.: Hardy & Delfinado (1980, Hawaiian spp.).
Genus APHANIOSOMA Becker
APHANIOSOMA Becker, 1903: 186. Type species: Aphaniosoma approximatum Becker, 1903, mon.
macalpinei Hardy in Hardy & Delfinado, 1980: 174. Hawaiian Is.
minutum Hardy in Hardy & Delfinado, 1980: 174. Hawaiian Is.
Genus CHYROMYIA Robineau-Desvoidy
CHYROMYIA Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830: 620. Type species: Chyromyia fenestratum Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830 [= Musca flava Linnaeus, 1758], mon.
flava Linnaeus, 1758: 600 (Musca). Europe; Hawaiian Is; Holarctic Reg.
GYMNOCHIROMYIA Hendel, 1933b: 43. Type species: Peletophila
minima Becker, 1904, orig. des.
hawaiiensis Hardy in Hardy & Delfinado, 1980: 177. Hawaiian Is.
nigridorsum Malloch, 1925f: 94 (Aphaniosoma). Australia (NSW).