Asteiidae is a small but widespread family of acalyptrate flies or Diptera. About 130 species in 10 genera have been described worldwide.They are rarely collected.

Adult asteiids are small (1-3 milimeter),thin-bodied, delicate flies.The wings are relatively long and transparent. See [1]

Adults have been collected at windows and tree wounds . Larval biologies are unknown, but adults have been reared from fungi, stalks of Cannabis sativa, flower buds, and dried reed stems. Sabrosky (1987) suggested that the larvae may be scavengers in the frass of other insects.

Sabrosky, C.W., 1943. New genera and species of Asteiidae (Diptera), with a review of the family in the Americas. Annals of the Entomological Society of America: 36(3):501-514. Available online at the Core Historical Literature of Agriculture, Albert R. Mann Library, Cornell University.

Sabrosky, C.W., 1956. Additions to the knowledge of Old World Asteiidae.Revue francaise d'entomologie (Nouvelle Serie) 23:216-243.

The family Asteiidae was erected by Hermann Loew