Phacaspis
Introduction '''''Phacaspis''''' is a genus of flies in the family Dolichopodidae. It is known from Southeast Asia, Papua New Guinea and Micronesia. Flies in the genus are small (less than 2 mm long), with metallic green coloring. They are marine, and are commonly found on mudflats in front of mangroves.The generic name is derived from the Ancient Greek ''phaktós'' ("lens") and ''aspís'' ("round shield" or clypeus), referring to the swollen lens-shaped clypeus.The genus was originally regarded as ''incertae sedis'' within the family Dolichopodidae. In the ''World Catalog of Dolichopodidae (Insecta: Diptera)'' by Yang ''et al.'' (2006), the new subfamily Kowmunginae was proposed to include both ''Kowmungia'' and ''Phacaspis''. This placement was later criticized by Sinclair ''et al.'' (2008), who suggested that the genus would have been better placed as ''incertae sedis'' until a later phylogenetic study determines its placement.
Species The genus contains four species:*''Phacaspis mitis'' Grootaert & Meuffels, 2001 – Thailand*''Phacaspis ornata'' Meuffels & Grootaert, 1988 – Papua New Guinea*''Phacaspis palauensis'' Bickel, 2023 – Federated States of Micronesia (Yap), Palau*''Phacaspis petiolata'' Meuffels & Grootaert, 1988 – Papua New Guinea, Thailand
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