Anisopodidae

Anisopodidae is a family of flies in the order Diptera. Members are small to medium-sized, with slender bodies and comparatively long legs. Adults typically measure a few millimeters in length and display simple wing venation. The group is cosmopolitan, occurring in a variety of habitats, from forests and grasslands to urban areas.

Larvae are primarily saprophagous, living in moist, decaying organic matter. They are commonly found in animal dung, manure piles, compost, rotting vegetation, and occasionally in the nests of mammals or birds. Development from egg to adult occurs in the substrate, and the larval stage is followed by a short pupal stage before emergence.

Ecology and behavior: Anisopodidae play a role in the decomposition and nutrient cycling of detritus. Adult flies are usually encountered near damp habitats or on vegetation, and they are attracted to light in some species. They are not known as major agricultural pests, though some species may breed in livestock facilities or in stored organic matter, where they can be considered nuisance organisms.

Systematics: The family comprises several genera and many species, with a long-standing placement within the lower flies (Nematocera) of Diptera. Taxonomic relationships within Diptera have undergone revisions, and the family is closely related to other detritivorous groups.