Thread subject: Diptera.info :: Ceratopogonidae (Tony Irwin); SW Spain

Posted by Andre Burgers on 10-02-2024 17:58
#1

I have no clue to which family this fly (2.2 mm) belongs. Very strange venation.
I found this specimen on a wall in Minas de Riotinto, Huelva.

Any idea?

Thanks! |t

Edited by Andre Burgers on 10-02-2024 22:07

Posted by Tony Irwin on 10-02-2024 19:50
#2

Ceratopogonidae

Posted by Andre Burgers on 10-02-2024 19:58
#3

Thanks, Tony! I have seen many Ceratopogonidae, but never like this one. |t

Posted by Tony Irwin on 10-02-2024 21:23
#4

The short, oblong radial cells are a good indicator for Ceratopogonidae.

Posted by Andre Burgers on 10-02-2024 22:06
#5

Perfectly explained, Tony! :)

Posted by John Carr on 10-02-2024 22:26
#6

Ceratopogonini, likely Ceratopogon.

Wing veins also match Culicoides which has more hairs on the wing and shorter claws.

Posted by Andre Burgers on 11-02-2024 16:09
#7

Well, a new genus for me (or tribe). :)

Thanks, John! |t

Posted by Andre Burgers on 11-02-2024 18:20
#8

I found some information about this genus.

Iberfauna only names one species for Spain, Ceratopogon niveipennis.
http://iberfauna.mncn.csic.es/showficha.aspx?rank=T&idtax=63066

As I have no idea whether this is correct I read "Beitrag zur Kenntniss der Gattung Ceratopogon Meigen" by J. Winnertz.
The description of its syn, C. candidatus and drawing of the wing fit my specimen.

Is it possible to identify these species by photo?


¡Saludos!
André

Posted by John Carr on 11-02-2024 19:40
#9

Four species are known from western Europe. Quoting Art Borkent: "They are generally early spring, alpine or arctic species and the genus is strictly Holarctic. Many females are difficult to identify even after slide mounting but the males, with very large genitalia, have good characters."



Posted by Andre Burgers on 12-02-2024 20:10
#10

John Carr wrote:
Four species are known from western Europe. Quoting Art Borkent: "They are generally early spring, alpine or arctic species and the genus is strictly Holarctic. Many females are difficult to identify even after slide mounting but the males, with very large genitalia, have good characters."


Well, that is clear!

Thanks, John! |t

Posted by Paul Beuk on 15-02-2024 10:02
#11

Andre, if you can check on original image if you can see an internal tooth on the tarsal claws then, please, do so. From this image it seems to be absent (although that may be because of orientation of the visible claws), but the tooth should be present in niveipennis.

Posted by Andre Burgers on 17-02-2024 15:53
#12

Hi, Paul! |t

I don't see any tooth on its claws. I will upload a cropped photo.


Thanks!!
André

Posted by Paul Beuk on 21-02-2024 17:22
#13

Then it should be another species ;)

Posted by Andre Burgers on 22-02-2024 16:25
#14

Paul Beuk wrote:
Then it should be another species ;)


No problemo, Paul! ;)

Bedankt weer! |t