Diptera.info - Discussion Forum: Tyrolean midge

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Tyrolean midge - Dicranota, Pediciidae
Sundew	#1 Posted on 01-07-2011 20:47
Member Location: Berlin and Baden-Württemberg, Germany Posts: 3939 Joined: 28.07.07	Hi, Again I have troubles with a Nematocera fly of Niederthai (1.500 m, Austria), seen in last August. I thought of Trichoceridae, seen on the same place in winter (do they fly in summer, too?); however, wing venation seems not to fit. So please help again! Many thanks, Sundew Sundew attached the following image: [153.41Kb] Edited by Sundew on 02-07-2011 18:19


John Carr	#2 Posted on 02-07-2011 01:56
Super Administrator Location: Colorado, USA Posts: 10652 Joined: 22.10.10	It's a crane fly, but I don't think Trichoceridae. Likely Limoniidae (or Tipulidae if you don't give family rank to Limoniidae). Trichoceridae have ocelli, and at least in North America the common genus has a very short and curved A2.


Sundew	#3 Posted on 02-07-2011 11:41
Member Location: Berlin and Baden-Württemberg, Germany Posts: 3939 Joined: 28.07.07	Thanks for the comments, dear John! I don't think that this is Tipulidae sensu stricto, the members of that taxon are more robust. I thought of Limoniidae; however, the schematic drawings of wing venation in my small fly book and in the internet (http://www.drawwi...limoniidae) are somewhat different. Is there so much variability? Edited by Sundew on 02-07-2011 12:04


John Carr	#4 Posted on 02-07-2011 13:33
Super Administrator Location: Colorado, USA Posts: 10652 Joined: 22.10.10	There is a lot of variation is crossveins. Check in Eriopterini (as used by Alexander; it may have a different rank or name in Europe).


Sundew	#5 Posted on 02-07-2011 17:15
Member Location: Berlin and Baden-Württemberg, Germany Posts: 3939 Joined: 28.07.07	It's the arrow-marked cell that puzzles me. I cannot find it in any Nematoceran wing venation scheme... Sundew attached the following image: [97.77Kb]


John Carr	#6 Posted on 02-07-2011 17:57
Super Administrator Location: Colorado, USA Posts: 10652 Joined: 22.10.10	Crane flies often have crossveins between R1 and the next branch of R. If there is one crossvein it might be called R2. If there are two one is called supernumerary. I now think yours is Dicranota (European Pediciidae, American Limoniinae). Here is a subgenus that has a discal cell; some don't: http://www.drawwi...llida-wing


Sundew	#7 Posted on 02-07-2011 18:13
Member Location: Berlin and Baden-Württemberg, Germany Posts: 3939 Joined: 28.07.07	John, you are sooo great! Pediciidae is a new family for me and not described in my fly book - no wonder I could find no wing picture! Many thanks indeed. BTW, there seems to be some inconsistency in Nematoceran taxonomy, doesn't it? You have Limoniidae as subfamily of Tipulidae and Pediciidae included therein, as I can read from your lines. The Europeans seem to love smaller families. Is there a correlation with the aim to avoid paraphyly? Edited by Sundew on 02-07-2011 18:14


John Carr	#8 Posted on 02-07-2011 18:49
Super Administrator Location: Colorado, USA Posts: 10652 Joined: 22.10.10	I think it's just rank inflation.