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Hi folks,
I could use some help with this nematoceran (I am more or less a novice with non-brachyceran diptera). I am helping a friend out with his PhD project, ID'ing insects caught with sticky traps (and getting some nice by-catches).

I am not at all sure what this thing is, and would be happy to learn.

It is very small, body length is ca. 1.5mm! (wing length ca 2 mm.)
It sort of looks like a miniature Culicidae with those hairy wings and lots of wing veins, but the short mouth parts doesn't fit. Not very familiar with Chaoboridae, Nilsson's Aquatic Insects states that minimum total body length can be as small as 3.0 mm, so maybe it could be this family. Can they have so very hairly wings?

Lycksele, Northern Sweden, 15-aug 2011.

thanks much,
Viktor

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...and a close-up.

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Are you sure they are biting mouthparts? I think Psychodidae but the species in Sweden are not biters as far as I know. If it is Psychodidae it has narrow wings, long legs, and short antennae.

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Thank you, John. I think you are right!
I was thinking about Psychodidae for some time, as it definately is the best fit regarding wing venation, but the habitus and wing shape didn't quite fit any species I've seen before.
However, it does indeed resemble some non-swedish Psychodidae species in the Diptera.info gallery (i.e. Lutzomyia, Phlebotomus) - this family is definately much more variable than I've thought. With this in mind, the wings are indeed a bit pointed and the antennae looks fine.

Thanks again.

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years ago I had a very similar specimen that made me nervous because I thought it would be the first record of a phlebotomid from Germany. However, close examination revealed that it was a tiny Limoniidae.

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The slender-bodied Psychodids do not occur in Sweden. This is probably a Limoniid.

Phlebotominae are, however, on their way Northward. Phlebotomus mascittii has been found as far north as southern Belgium. You probably get it to Skåne in less than 20 years.