[2] Historically it was collected throughout the Ko'olau and Wai'anae ranges, but now is only known to occur near the summit of Mt.

D. substenoptera is a member of the planitibia species group and neopicta subgroup within the picture-wing clade.

[5] This fly is yellow with two black stripes on the thorax, and has narrow wings with brown markings.

D. substenoptera lives in wet forest habitat and has been recorded breeding on rotting bark from plants in the genera Cheirodendron and Tetraplasandra.

[1] Threats to the conservation of this species include loss-of-habitat, in part due to invasive pigs and goats, competition for larval resources with introduced crane flies, and introduced predators such as ants and yellowjacket wasps.