page_title: Dolichopodidae
hierarchical_section_title: Dolichopodidae
caption_attribution_description: Taken in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
context_page_description: Dolichopodidae, the long-legged flies, are a large, cosmopolitan family of true flies with more than 7,000 described species in about 230 genera. The genus Dolichopus is the most speciose, with some 600 species.
  Dolichopodidae generally are small flies with large, prominent eyes and a metallic cast to their appearance, though there is considerable variation among the species. Most have long legs, though some do not. In many species the males have unusually large genitalia which are taxonomically useful in identifying species. Most adults are predatory on other small animals, though some may scavenge or act as kleptoparasites of spiders or other predators.
  An expanded concept of the family includes the subfamilies Parathalassiinae and Microphorinae. The latter of these was formerly placed in the Empididae, and was at one time considered a separate family. However, some authors propose instead that Dolichopodidae s.l. should be known as the epifamily Dolichopodoidae, containing Dolichopodidae, Microphoridae and the subfamily Parathalassiinae.
context_section_description: Dolichopodidae, the long-legged flies, are a large, cosmopolitan family of true flies with more than 7,000 described species in about 230 genera. The genus Dolichopus is the most speciose, with some 600 species.
  Dolichopodidae generally are small flies with large, prominent eyes and a metallic cast to their appearance, though there is considerable variation among the species.  Most have long legs, though some do not. In many species the males have unusually large genitalia which are taxonomically useful in identifying species. Most adults are predatory on other small animals, though some may scavenge or act as kleptoparasites of spiders or other predators.
  An expanded concept of the family (Dolichopodidae sensu lato) includes the subfamilies Parathalassiinae and Microphorinae. The latter of these was formerly placed in the Empididae, and was at one time considered a separate family (Microphoridae). However, some authors propose instead that Dolichopodidae s.l. should be known as the epifamily Dolichopodoidae, containing Dolichopodidae, Microphoridae (restored as a family) and the subfamily Parathalassiinae.
caption: Austrosciapus connexus—a typical example of green Dolichopodidae
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