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Stalk-eyed flies are insects of the fly family Diopsidae. The family is distinguished from most other flies by the possession of "eyestalks": projections from the sides of the head with the eyes at the end. Some fly species from other families such as Drosophilidae, Platystomatidae, and Tephritidae have similar heads but the unique character of Diopsidae is that the antennae are located on the stalk, rather than in the middle of the head as in all other flies. The size of the stalk-eyed flies span up to a centimeter long, and they feed on both decaying plants and animals. Their unique morphology has inspired a great deal of research into how the attribute may have arisen through forces of sexual selection and natural selection. Studies of the behavior of the Diopsidae have yielded important insights into the development of sexual ornamentation, the genetic factors that maintain such a morphological feature, sexual selection, and the handicap principle. ==Distribution and habitat== There are more than one hundred species in the Diopsidae, with the greatest diversity found in the Old World tropics. They are distributed throughout the region, with the best known species being from South-East Asia and Southern Africa. There are also two species in North America and a European species has recently been found in Hungary. Adult diopsids are typically found on low-lying vegetation in humid areas, often near streams and rivers, where they feed on fungi and bacteria that they scavenge from decaying vegetation. The larvae are saprophagic or phytophagous, eating decaying and fresh plant matter. ''Diopsis macrophthalma'' Dalman, 1817 is a pest of rice and sorghum in tropical Africa. The peculiar morphology of stalk-eyed flies makes it easy to identify their fossils (e.g. in amber); one prehistoric genus that has been discovered in that form is ''Prosphyracephala''. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Stalk-eyed fly」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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