Numerous, see text Clythiidae Platypezidae is a family of true flies of the superfamily Platypezoidea.

A common name is flat-footed flies, but this is also used for the closely related Opetiidae which were formerly included in the Platypezidae.

The larva has a poorly differentiated, fairly unsclerotized head with short tuberclelike antennae located above rudimentary palpi and 11 body segments.

Adults may be found performing rapid erratic movements on broad leaves of both woody and herbaceous plants, evidently feeding on surface deposits.

[2] Adults are seen either on the wing or running about in an erratic fashion on the leaves of bushes in partially sunlit, dappled shade.

The females are attracted to chosen males in such swarms, where aerial coupling begins and the paired flies settle with heads in opposite directions on low bushes until mating is over.

Feeding platypezids move rapidly over leaves, occasionally stopping to ingest honeydew or other food.

The first feeding episode begins at midmorning, ceases at a time later in the morning then resumes in the afternoon.