Eulonchus

Eulonchus is a genus of small-headed flies in the family Acroceridae. There are six described species in Eulonchus. The genus is found in North America. Adults have a metallic blue, green or sometimes purple coloration, giving them a jewel-like appearance. A common name for flies in the genus is the North American jewelled spider flies. Adults are also known as "sapphires" or "emeralds".

Species

These six species belong to the genus Eulonchus:

Eulonchus halli Schlinger, 1960
Eulonchus marginatus Osten-Sacken, 1877
Eulonchus marialiciae Brimley, 1925
Eulonchus sapphirinus Osten Sacken, 1877
Eulonchus smaragdinus Gerstaecker, 1856
Eulonchus tristis Loew, 1872

Distribution

Most species of Eulonchus are distributed west of the Rocky Mountains in the United States, northwards to Canada and southwards to Baja California, Mexico. The exception is Eulonchus marialiciae, which is known only from a small area in the Great Smoky Mountains in North Carolina, though future studies are needed to confirm the species' true range.

Hosts

Flies in the genus attack spiders in the families Euctenizidae and Antrodiaetidae.