Thread subject: Diptera.info :: Trichoceridae - help ID
Posted by Isidro on 02-07-2009 13:17
#1
Yesterday. Bujaruelo valley, Pyrenees, NE Spain, alpine-atlantic climate, 1200 meters. The habitat is a mountain river of clear and fresh waters, with many big round rocks and no submerged plants. Two features are noticeable: the mating position is very strange, I always have seen Tipulidae mating with male and female in opposite directions but this pair is always with male and female looking at the same direction and when disturbed and flied to another site continue having the same position. And the other feature is the strange sexual dimorphism in antennae. Male have very long antennae, although with very few segments. And antennae of female are very short.
P.D. I have a more dorsal view if it help.
Could it be identified?
Thanks
Isidro
Edited by Isidro on 25-08-2010 12:40
Posted by Isidro on 03-07-2009 14:10
#2
Heeeeeeey!
Posted by jorgemotalmeida on 03-07-2009 14:33
#3
dorsal view of the wing...
Posted by Isidro on 04-07-2009 14:58
#4
Obrigado Jorge,
here is the best shot that I took of the wing venation.
Posted by Isidro on 04-07-2010 09:29
#5
Even the family!!! is impossible??
Posted by Chen Young on 14-07-2010 23:15
#6
The antennae of the male reminds me of family Trichoceridae. The wing venation of the male in this image is not too clear but if you could locate the Rs and then count the main logitudinal veins countclock wise you will notice that A2 is missing, thus led me to guess it is Trichoceridae.
As for the position of mating orientation, many crane flies in the family Limoniidae will perform this way with both sexes facing the same direction; some with abdomen connected as shown in your image, some the male has its abdomen positioned below the female abdomen first then bend upward to connect with the female from above. The large tipulid crane flies when they facing opposited directions during mating, the males have to twist their abdomen in order to mate with the females.
Posted by Isidro on 25-08-2010 12:38
#7
Wow! Chen Young is here!
I'll send you some unidentified Tipulidae soon!
Thanks for reply. It will rest as Trichoceridae.