Scuttle Flies: The Phoridae

Description:

Phoridae are probably the insect family with the greatest diversity of larval habits, but the least studied of the large families of flies due to identification difficulties. This book collates what is known about the natural history of the Phoridae. It reviews eggs and oviposition, larval habits (including saprophages, kleptoparasites, fungus breeders, plant feeders, predator, parasitoids, parasites and enemies), pupae and their enemies, development, adult habits (including feeding, special associations, courtship, mating, phoretic mites and enemies) and ecological aspects. There follows a new user-friendly and extensively illustrated key to world genera and a review of the identification literature for each of the 229 genera recognized. A review of methods and an extensive bibliography complete the work.

Condition

Fine. From the library of K.G.V. Smith (1929-2017), leading British dipterist at the Natural History Museum, London, and editor of the Entomologist’s Monthly Magazine. Typed letter, signed and dated 1991, from Commissioning editor for entomology at Chapman & Hall, Philippa MacBain, to K.G.V. Smith, loosely inserted.