Abai, MR

6th International Congress of DipterologyOverview of SciomyzidaeVala, J.-C. (1) & K. Lloyd (2)(1) University of Orleans - Faculty of Sciences - Rue de Chartes - BP 6759 - 45067Orleans cedex 2 – France. e-mail: jean-claude.vala@wanadoo.fr(2) Salita degli Albito, 29, O4024 Gaeta, (LT) Italy. e-mail : lvknutson@tiscali.itAn overview of some major aspects of Sciomyzidae is given. It is based ona book, by these authors, on all aspects of the family, to be published byCambridge University Press in 2007. The relationships of Sciomyzidae toother Sciomyzidea and the taxonomy of the family; diversity of the 535species in the 61 genera; range of terrestrial to aquatic habitats; anddistribution in all major zoogeographic regions are noted. Hosts/prey –freshwater, brackish water marine littoral and terrestrial snails, snail eggs,slugs, fingernail clams, freshwater oligochaetes and millipedes (latter byPhaeomyiidae) are displayed in relation to a cladogram of genera ofSciomyzidae. A cladogram of all families of Gastropoda is linked to-thebehavioural groups, based on saprophagous-predatory-parasitoid behavior,hosts/prey, and microhabitat are shown in comparison to a cladogram ofthe genera. A few examples of experimental studies on host/preypreference, predation, competition, populations, survival, etc are presented.The seven phenological groups, based on voltinism, overwintering stage,and generations per year, with a new group for tropical species, arediagrammed. Some natural enemies and stereoscan photos of a few keymorphological features are illustrated, e.g. presence of float hairs interrestrial larvae, fine structure of cross-section of eggs. Evolution ofdiverse feeding behaviour and associated adaptations is encapsulated. Withincreasing importance of slugs as agricultural pests, and aquatic snailhabits due to development of new dams (S.E. Asia, Africa) along withresistance to anti-helminthic drugs, renewed prospects for use ofSciomyzidae as biocontrol agents, supported by extensive recent andcurrent research, is considered.Key Words: Sciomyzidae, Mollusca, biology, evolution, biocontrol.288