ASTEIIDAE

Grimaldi, David A., 2009, The Asteioinea of Fiji (Insecta: Diptera: Periscelididae, Asteiidae, Xenasteiidae), American Museum Novitates 3671, pp. 1-60 : 38

FAMILY ASTEIIDAE

This is a worldwide family of approximately 100 described species of very small acalyptrates grouped into 10 genera. They are typically boldly colored, with the dorsum dark and the venter light. Except for Leiomyza , the wing venation is distinctively reduced, with vein R 2+3 being very short and ending near the apex of R 1. A few species have been bred from fungi, and many species are associated with trees; few are collected using generalized methods like Malaise traps. Although all but two of the 10 genera occur in the Indo-Pacific region, Fiji’s known fauna has five species of just the genus Asteia Meigen , all but one of which are new.