Summarized from Brake (2000)

The Milichiidae are a monophyletic family ( Click here for phylogenetic tree). Apomorphic characters for the Milichiidae are:

• 3 lateroclinate orbital and 2 medioclinate frontal setae
• a proclinate setula between supra-antennal seta and eye margin present
• a pair of setulae present on the lunule
• proboscis with 4 pseudotracheae
• postgonites of male genitalia lost

The Milichiidae can be divided into 3 subfamilies: Phyllomyzinae, Madizinae, and Milichiinae. The Phyllomyzinae are the first to branch off. The Madizinae and Milichiinae are sister-groups. Apomorphies for the Madizinae + Milichiinae are:

posterior orbital seta medio-reclinate postocellar setae parallel to slightly converging basisternum large and V-shaped phallapodemic sclerite fused with bases of pregonites and hypandrium median part of hypandrium lost ?secondary ovipositor (sternite 8 form two strips, ring of barbed spines between sternite 7 and 8, ovipositor short, supra-anal plate bare, cerci short)

Phyllomyzinae

The Phyllomyzinae consist of the genera Aldrichiomyza, Costalima, Microsimus, Neophyllomyza, Paramyia, Paramyioides, Phyllomyza, Stomosis, and Xenophyllomyza. This subfamily is characterized by the following apomorphies:

• the two medial pseudotracheae are converging at the tips
• proepimeral seta present
• first tarsomere of hind leg with a row of setae posteroventrally
• ring of barbed spines between segments 7 and 8 in females lost

Madizinae

The Madizinae consist of the genera Desmometopa, Madiza, and Leptometopa. This subfamily is characterized by the following apomorphies:

• distiphallus consists of a membranous tube, with a widened part in the middle and with a sclerotized stripe posteriorly at the base

Milichiinae

The Milichiinae consist of the genera Enigmilichia, Eusiphona, Milichia, Milichiella, Pholeomyia, and Ulia. The Milichiinae are characterized by the following apomorphies:

• middle orbital seta reclinate and anterior orbital seta proclinate
• vibrissal angle obsolescent and vibrissa above lower margin of eyes
• eyes enlarged and frons in males narrower than in females
• R4+5 and M1 convergent at tip
• distal margin of anal cell meeting anal vein in a sharp angle