Fungal hosts of mycetophilids (diptera: Sciaroidea excluding sciaridae): A review

Abstract

The larvae of more than 1000 species representing more than 40 families of European Diptera feed on fungi. Of these, the mycetophilids (Diptera: Bolitophilidae, Ditomyiidae, Diadocidiidae, Keroplatidae and Mycetophilidae) represent the largest group. A total of 417 mycetophilid species (38% of the European fauna) are associated with ca. 650 species of macrofungi (from 196 genera and 18 orders) and with five genera of slime moulds. Host preferences of mycetophilids are generally based on the hyphal structure and consistency of fruiting bodies rather than on host phylogeny. A few mycetophilid species seem to be confined to particular genera and species of fungal hosts. © 2012, 2012 Mycological Society of China.