Carnidae in general are small (1–2 mm) black flies.[4]
One feature of Carnidae is the frons of the head having some orbitalsetae medioclinate (pointing inwards) and others lateroclinate (pointing outwards). InCarnus,[5]Hemeromyia,Meoneura andEnigmocarnus, the anterior two pairs of setae are medioclinate and the posterior two pairs are lateroclinate.[4] InNeomeoneurites and the extinct genusMeoneurites, the anteriormost pair is medioclinate and the posterior three pairs are lateroclinate.[4]
Most Carnidae aresaprophagous. Adults have been found on dung, carrion, flowers ofApiaceae and other plants, in bird nests and sometimes in bird feathers. Larvae have been found in bird and mammal nests, damaged pupae ofSarcophaga sp. (Sarcophagidae), stems ofFerula sp. (Apiaceae),Leccinum fungus (Boletaceae), dung, salted fish and plant remains.[6]
Adults ofCarnus such asC. hemapterus andC. orientalis are exceptions, feeding on blood of birds. They are associated with bird nests and nestlings.[5]
^Cogan, B.H. (1976).Other families [of Schizophora-Acalyptratae, not Agromyzidae, Chloropidae, Sciomyzidae, Sepsidae, or Sphaeroceridae.] Pp. 69-76, 80-87 & 94. In Kloet, G. S. & Hincks,W. D., A checklist of British insects (ed. 2) Part 5: Diptera & Siphonaptera. Handbooks for the Identification of British Insects. Vol. 11. Royal Entomological Society. pp. ix + 139.
