Phaonia Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830

Xue, Wan-Qi, Wang, Ming-Fu & Du, Jing, 2006, Study of two species groups of Phaonia Robineau-Desvoidy (Diptera: Muscidae) from China, with the description of three new species, Zootaxa 1350, pp. 1-19 : 2

Phaonia Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830

Phaonia Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830: 482 .

Type species: Phaonia viarum Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830 , by designation of Coquillett (1901: 140).

Diagnosis. Male without inter frontal seta, subcosta bending like a bow, M straight, lower calypter tongue-shaped, mid tibia with more than two p, hind tibia with a strong pd on preapical part, posterior surface of hind coxa bare ( Xue & Chao 1996; Ma et al. 2002).

Biology. Eggs laid singly or in small batches on or near suitable media. Papillae of anal region reduced or absent; 2–8 prospiracular lobes. Anal spiracles never on long processes; slits straight to curved or sinuate, parallel to radiate; scar median or, very rarely inferior (see jaroschewskii -group). Cocoon production is unknown in Phaonia (except for Phaonia rhodesi ).

As far as is known the larvae live in their final instar as obligate carnivores. While most Phaonia appear to have rather restricted food requirements, the range of media utilized by the genus as whole is very wide. For example, some researchers found Phaonia hybrida biastostyla emerging from the cocoon of Hyphantria cunea (Drury) . Curiously enough, however, dung is extremely rarely utilized ( Skidmore 1985).

Distribution. Cosmopolitan, except for remote island groups and the coldest regions.