| Acalyptratae | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Marsh fly (Sciomyzidae) | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Diptera |
| Suborder: | Brachycera |
| Infraorder: | Muscomorpha |
| Clade: | Eremoneura |
| (unranked): | Cyclorrhapha |
| Section: | Schizophora |
| Subsection: | Acalyptratae |
| Superfamilies | |
Carnoidea | |
TheAcalyptratae orAcalyptrata are a subsection of theSchizophora, which are a section of the orderDiptera, the "true flies". In various contexts the Acalyptratae also are referred to informally as theacalyptrate muscoids, oracalyptrates, as opposed to theCalyptratae. All forms of the name refer to the lack ofcalypters in the members of this subsection of flies. An alternative name,Acalypterae is current, though in minority usage. It was first used byPierre-Justin-Marie Macquart in 1835 for a section of his tribe Muscides; he used it to refer to all acalyptrates plusscathophagids andphorids, but excludingConopidae.
The confusing forms of the names stem from their first usage;Acalyptratae andAcalyptrata actually are adjectival forms inNeo-Latin. They were coined in the mid 19th century in contexts such as "Muscae Calyptratae and Acalyptratae" and "Diptera Acalyptrata", and the forms stuck.[1]
The Acalyptratae are a large assemblage, exhibiting very diverse habits, with one notable and perhaps surprising exception: no known acalyptrates are obligate blood-feeders (hematophagous), though blood feeding at various stages of the life history is common throughout otherDipteran sections.
The classification of the Acalyptratae has varied over time, and the below list is likely to change in future.
