Diagnosis. Small (1.5-3.0 mm) flies. Head rather small; eyes big, holoptic in male, dichoptic in female; antennae with short third segment; arista more than twice as long as third segment. Thorax somewhat arched and with distinct acrostichal and dorsocentral setae. Wings with few cross veins, only r-m and dm-cu present in Atelestus, Meghyperus with additional cross vein m-m; M1+2 forked in Meghyperus. Legs with hind tibiae dilated and sometimes flattened. Abdomen gradually narrowing posteriorly; male genitalia symmetrical and not rotated.
Biology. Immature stages unknown. Adults are usually found in low herbal vegetation or on foliage in deciduous forest, either swept or from Malaise traps. Meghyperus was collected in numbers near streams. The flies are probably predacious (consistent with structure of mouthparts and feeding behaviour in related families). Males display swarming behaviour.
References to the local fauna. Beuk & Zeegers (1992), Chvála (1989a).
How to quote this page: Beuk, P.L.Th., & V.S. van der Goot, 2001. Family Atelestidae. In: Beuk, P.L.Th. (Ed.): Checklist of the Diptera of the Netherlands, https://diptera-info.nl/news.php?fam=Atelestidae (date accessed: 24/04/2024).