Pallopteridae, members of which are sometimes called flutter-wing flies, is a small family of over 50 species in 15 genera chiefly found in the temperate regions of the Northern and Southern hemispheres. Little is known of the biologies of species of this family. Adults of extant forms have been found on flowers and low hanging branches in shady habits. Larvae are recorded as phytophagous or carnivorous, with some species preying on beetles of the families Cerambycidae and Scolytidae and one species preying on larvae of Cecidomyiidae. Some have been found in flower buds and stems.

Five species in 4 genera are recorded in the fossil record of this family. Two genera, Morgea Hennig and Glaesolonchaea Hennig, were originally described (Hennig, 1967b) in the Lonchaeidae, but later (Morge, 1967) transferred them to the Pallopteridae. No lonchaeid fossils are known at this time.

GLAESOLONCHEA Hennig, 1967b: 15. Type species: Glaesolonchaea electrica Hennig, 1967, by monotypy.
electrica Hennig, 1967b: 15. PA: Baltic Region (Eocene/Oligocene) [A].

MORGEA Hennig, 1967b: 11. Type species: Morgea mcalpinei Hennig, 1967, by monotypy.
mcalpinei Hennig, 1967b: 11. PA: Baltic Region (Eocene/Oligocene) [A].

*PALLOPTERA Fallén, 1820c: 23. Type species: Musca umbellatarum Fabricius, 1775, by subsequent designation of Westwood (1840: 150).
hypolithica Zhang, 1989a: 365. PA: China (Miocene) [C].
morticiana Scudder, 1877b: 279. NE: Canada (Oligocene) [C].

PALLOPTERITES Hennig, 1967b: 4. Type species Pallopterites electrica Hennig, 1967, by monotypy.
electrica Hennig, 1967b: 4. PA: Baltic Region (Eocene/Oligocene) [A].