The family Neurochaetidae, whose species are commonly known as upside-down
flies, was erected for 3 concurrently described extant species in the genus Neurochaeta (McAlpine 1978) and 2 species of Anthoclusia Hennig
known from Baltic amber. Woodley (1982) described 2 additional species of Neurochaeta and discussed the phylogeny of species in the genus.
McAlpine (1988a) recently described 3 additional species of Neurochaeta and placed Nothoasteia, a genus comprising 2 known species, in the
family. Thus, there are 2 extant genera and a total of 10 species presently
placed in the family; 4 species occur in the Australian Region.
Neurochaeta inversa has been relatively well studied for such a recently
described fly. The biology of this species indicates that larval and adult
neurochaetids are closely associated with specific host plants. Adults are
found primarily on leaves and inflorescences of Alocasia macrorrhiza (L.) G. Don (Araceae) and assume a head-downward orientation on vertical
surfaces (McAlpine 1978b). Larvae develop in the watery medium around the
infructescence of the host plant, apparently feeding on microorganisms (McAlpine
1978, Shaw et al. 1982). Adults have been observed feeding on pollen
of the host plant (McAlpine, 1988b). Neurochaeta magnifica from Papua
New Guinea was found associated with Pandanus sp. (Pandanaceae),
and Oriental species of Neurochaeta have been collected on Musaceae
and Zingiberaceae (McAlpine 1987b, 1988b).
Refs.: McAlpine (1978b; 1987b, biol.; 1988a, syst.; 1988b, biol.),
Shaw et al. (1982, biol.), Woodley (1982, key, phylog.).
NEUROCHAETA McAlpine, 1978b: 278. Type species: Neurochaeta
inversa McAlpine, 1978, orig. des.
inversa McAlpine, 1978b: 285. Australia (NSW); Australia (Qld).
magnifica McAlpine, 1988a: 49. PNG (PNG).
NOTHOASTEIA Malloch, 1936b: 259. Type species: Nothoasteia
platycephala Malloch, 1936, orig. des.
clausa McAlpine, 1988a: 55. Australia (WA).
platycephala Malloch, 1936b: 259. Australia (Qld).