Anthomyiidae Flies in Hawai'i

Anthomyiidae is an extremely large and diverse family of flies from the superfamily Muscoidea. Although a majority of species are drab and grey in color, others within the genus Anthomyia are distinctly patterned, covered in black-and-white or black-and-silver hues. Due to similar color patterns, it can be difficult to recognize species. However, the kelp flies are one group that can be easily identified. They derive their name due to their presence on beaches, where they feed on rotting kelp and seaweed. Other species differ from kelp flies and other "root-maggot" species by scavenging on bird's nests or feeding on plant leaf tissue. The family also includes inquiline species (one that lives commensally in another animal's dwelling place), in addition to parasitic and commensal species. Some species are also major agricultural pests, including the turnip root fly (D. floralis), the onion fly (D. antique), and the cabbage root fly (D. radicum). Please help transcribe the UHIM's Anthomyiidae fly collection in order to better help us understand their distribution and impact in Hawai'i.This expedition of 328 tasks is fully transcribed and validated. This data resource is harvested periodically into the main occurrence index.