Dixidae
Dixidae | |
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Dixa nebulosa | |
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Family: | Dixidae
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The Dixidae (meniscus midges) are a family of aquatic nematoceran flies (Diptera). The larvae live in unpolluted, standing fresh waters, just beneath the surface film, usually amongst marginal aquatic vegetation.[2][3] They are found in all continents except Antarctica.
Description
For terms see Morphology of Diptera
Dixiidae are small (body length not more than 5.0 mm) slender gnats with thin legs. The head is relatively broad. The antennae are thin and the flagellum has 14 segments. The proboscis is short and thick and the palpi are five-segmented. The thorax is slightly convex. The wing veins are without scales (with scales in the closely related family Culicidae. The subcosta is fused with the costa at the level of the base of Rs or slightly proximal to this. The wing venation exhibits radial, medial, and cubital forks (R 4 branched, M 2 branched, Cu 2 branched). R 2+ 3 is strongly arched, the r–m crossvein is distinct, and the discal cell is absent. The anal vein of the wing is long. The genitalia of the male is inverted at 180° by torsion of segments 5–8.
References
- ^ Papp, L., Merz, B. & Földvari (2006): Diptera of Thailand. A summary of the families and genera with references to the species representations. Acta. zool. hung. Vol. 52 (2)
- ^ R. W. Bouchard, Jr. (2005). Guide to Aquatic Invertebrates of the Upper Midwest. University of Minnesota.
- ^ R. H. L. Disney (1999). British Dixidae (meniscus midges) and Thaumaleidae (trickle midges): keys with ecological notes. Vol. 56. Freshwater Biological Association. pp. 128 pp. ISBN 0-900386-60-6.
Further reading
- Lindner , E 193 1. Dixinae (Culicidae) 3, 11-12, 1-43 In: Lindner, E. (Ed.). Die Fliegen der palaearktischen Region Keys to Palaearctic species but now needs revision (in German).
- A. A. Shtakel'berg Family Dixidae in Bei-Bienko, G. Ya, 1988 Keys to the insects of the European Part of the USSR Volume 5 (Diptera) Part 2 English edition.Keys to Palaearctic species but now needs revision .
External links
- Delta Int Key – family description and image
- BugGuide
- Wing venation
- EOL images
- Diptera.info images
- Dixiidae in Italian