Treated as a subfamily of Bombyliidae in the original Australasian/Oceanian
Diptera catalog, this group of flies, commonly called microbombyliids, were
shown to be a separate family by Zaitzev (1991). Zaitzev has been followed
in recent treatments (Evenhuis 1993b, 1994), based on the fact that they
are the sister group to the remainder of the Bombyliidae s. str. and have
a fossil record that is 200 million years older than the oldest bombyliid
fossil.
Although only 6 species are listed in 5 genera in this catalog, the family
is represented in these regions by a diverse array of genera and species,
many of which are undescribed. Immatures are known as gregarious parasites
of solitary bees (Mythicomyia Coquillett), predators of grasshopper
egg pods (Psiloderoides), or are free-living and possible predators
in the nests of Formica and other ants (Glabellula). Classification follows Greathead & Evenhuis (2001)
Subfamily PSILODEROIDINAE
Genus ACRIDOPHAGUS Evenhuis
CYRTOMORPHA White, 1916b: 185. Type species: Cyrtomorpha paganica White, 1916, mon. [Preocc. Graff, 1882.]
ROBERTSELLA Evenhuis, 1978b: 247 (n. n. for Cyrtomorpha).
[Preocc. Guinot, 1969.]
ACRIDOPHAGUS Evenhuis, 1983c: 318 (n. n. for Robertsella).
CYRTOSIA, authors, not Perris, 1839, misid.
CYRTIMORPHA, error for Cyrtomorpha.
flaviscutellaris Roberts, 1929: 566 (Cyrtomorpha). Australia
(WA).
paganicus White, 1916b: 186 (Cyrtomorpha). Australia (Tas).
parvissimus Roberts, 1929: 567 (Cyrtosia). Australia (Qld).
Subfamily EMPIDIDEICINAE
Genus EMPIDIDEICUS Becker
EMPIDIDEICUS Becker, 1907: 97. type species: Empidideicus cathaginiensis Becker, 1907, mon.
Undetermined sp.-- Australia (WA) (N.L. Evenhuis, personal observation).
Subfamily MYTHICOMYIINAE
Genus MYTHICOMYIA Coquillett
MYTHICOMYIA Coquillett, 1893: 209. Type species:Mythicomyia rileyi Coquillett, 1893, mon.
Subgenus HETERHYBOS Brèthes
HETERHYBOS Brèthes, 1919: 40 (as gen.). Type species: Heterhybos hyalipennis Brèthes, 1919, orig. des.
Undetermined sp. — Fiji (N.L. Evenhuis, personal observation).
Subfamily GLABELLULINAE
PLATYGASTER Zetterstedt, 1838: 574. Type species: Platygaster
arcticus Zetterstedt, 1838, mon. [Preocc. Latreille, 1809.]
SPHAEROGASTER Zetterstedt, 1842: 232 (n. n. for Platygaster). [Preocc.
Sturm, 1826.]
GLABELLA Loew, 1873c: 210. Type species: Glabella femorata Loew, 1873, mon. [Preocc. Swainson, 1840.]
GLABELLULA Bezzi, 1902: 191 (n. n. for Platygaster ). Type
species: Platygaster actica Zetterstedt, 1838, des. I.C.Z.N. 1989:
148.
PACHYNERES Greene, 1924: 62. Type species: Pachyneres crassicornis Greene, 1924, mon.
australis Malloch, 1924b: 205 (Pachyneres). Australia (NSW)
[not Philippines]; Australia (ACT, Qld, Tas).