This page represents the following TreeOfLife-200M taxonomic path.[1]
Based on observations of preserved specimens in the TreeOfLife-200M dataset, members of the genus Apelleia exhibit characteristic features of the family Acroceridae.[1] The specimens typically display a robust, somewhat humpbacked body form, which is typical for the family. The head is relatively small in proportion to the thorax, and the wings are often large and membranous, extending well beyond the abdomen. Due to the nature of the preserved museum specimens, finer morphological details such as specific setal patterns or precise venation are difficult to resolve in these images.[1]
Apelleia is a genus of flies belonging to the family Acroceridae, commonly known as small-headed flies.[2] The genus was described by the Italian entomologist Luigi Bellardi in 1862.[2] Like other members of the Acroceridae, they are known for their specialized, often parasitic, life cycles involving spiders.[3]