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)
#2
What are you thinking: march fly so must be
Bibio? (That was my sick joke...
) 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).