Research Collaborator, Smithsonian Institution, Fishers, Indiana 46038-2257, USA.
Annu Rev Entomol. 2012;57:425-47. doi: 10.1146/annurev-ento-120710-100702.
The biology of snail-killing flies (Diptera: Sciomyzidae) has been studied intensively over the past half-century, especially over the past decade. Today, sciomyzids are biologically the best-known group of higher Diptera. The overarching research objectives are evaluation of sciomyzids as biocontrols of disease-carrying or agriculturally important snails and slugs and as a paradigm group for the study of the evolution of diverse feeding and associated behaviors in flies. We present reviews and analyses of some key features of particular scientific and societal interest, including behavioral and phenological groups; laboratory experimental studies on behavior and development; population biology, bioindicators, ecosystem service provision, and conservation; phylogenetics, molecular studies, and evolutionary biology; and biocontrol.
过去半个世纪以来，人们对食蜗牛蝇（双翅目：蝇科）的生物学进行了深入研究，尤其是过去十年。如今，蝇科在生物学上是最知名的高等双翅目昆虫。其主要研究目标是评估食蜗牛蝇作为携带疾病或农业重要蜗牛和蛞蝓的生物防治，以及作为研究不同食性和相关行为进化的典范群体。我们介绍了一些具有特殊科学和社会意义的关键特征的综述和分析，包括行为和物候学群体；关于行为和发育的实验室实验研究；种群生物学、生物指标、生态系统服务提供和保护；系统发生学、分子研究和进化生物学；以及生物防治。
