Thread subject: Diptera.info :: Bibio sp.

Posted by elck on 24-04-2005 18:09
#1

What bibio sp. do we have here?
Sorry, just a sick joke.
My real question is: what is the defining difference between a fly and a midge (dutch: vlieg of mug) Bibio sp. are called ao. 'maartse vliegen' in dutch, but they are not flies 'vliegen' but 'muggen' midges.
Btw. the odanata sp is Brachytron pratense Hairy Dragonfly (female) (dutch:glassnijder)

www.stippen.nl/stipfotos/bibio.jpg

Posted by Paul Beuk on 25-04-2005 10:29
#2

Shock What are you thinking: march fly so must be Bibio? (That was my sick joke... Grin) It is a species of Dilophus.

As to the official differences between midges (Nematocera) and flies (Brachycera) I quote from the Manual of Nearctic Diptera:

Antennal flagellum usually with four or more freeley articulated flagellomeres, with apical segments usually not consolidated into a stylus or arista. Palpus usually with three to five segments...Nematocera
Antennal flagellum usually consolidated into a single compound segment typically bearing a terminal to dorsal stylus or arista. Palpus with not more than two segments...Brachycera

Normally, the term flies is used for all brachycerous Diptera and the Nematocera have a bunch of names that are used for different groups/families. These include among others midges, gnats and mosquitoes. Still, there are a few families that have 'fly' names. This is certainly correct from the language part of the matter since the English name for all Diptera officially is flies. Probably the major reason that some groups have acquired the name fly is because of their sturdy built or larger size. Examples are the crane flies (Tipuloidea), the march flies (Bibionidae), sandflies (Psychodidae) and the blackflies (Simuliidae).

Posted by elck on 25-04-2005 23:14
#3

Pfft touch?, thanks for the info