Blephariceridae

The Blephariceridae, commonly known as net-winged midges, are a nematoceran family in the order Diptera. The adults resemble crane flies except with a projecting anal angle in the wings, and different head shape, absence of the V on the mesonotum, and more laterally outstretched, forward-facing legs. They are uncommon, but dozens of genera occur worldwide, and over 200 species.

Blephariceridae
Temporal range: Middle Jurassic–Present
Blepharicera fasciata
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Diptera
Infraorder: Psychodomorpha
Family: Blephariceridae
Loew, 1862
Subfamilies
  • Blepharicerinae
  • Edwardsininae

They are found near fast-flowing streams where the larvae live. Blepharicerid larvae are filter feeders and have suckers on their abdominal sternites, used to adhere to rocks in the torrents in which they live. These suckers are sometimes called creeping welts. These are of unique evolutionary origin within the Diptera.

One recent classification based largely on fossils treats this family as the sole member of its infraorder, but this has not gained wide acceptance.

Taxonomy
Larva of Blepharicera
Larva of Blepharicera, ventral
  • Subfamily Blepharicerinae
    • Tribe Blepharicerini
      • Agathon Rodor, 1890
        • Agathon arizonica (Alexander, 1958)
        • Agathon aylmeri (Garrett, 1923)
        • Agathon comstocki (Kellogg, 1903)
        • Agathon dismalea (Hogue, 1970)
        • Agathon doanei (Kellogg, 1900)
        • Agathon elegantulus Roder, 1890
        • Agathon markii (Garrett, 1925)
        • Agathon sequoiarum (Alexander, 1952)
      • Bibiocephala
      • Blepharicera Macquart, 1843
        • Blepharicera appalachiae Hogue and Georgian, 1986
        • Blepharicera capitata (Loew, 1863)
        • Blepharicera cherokea Hogue, 1978
        • Blepharicera coweetae Hogue and Georgian, 1985
        • Blepharicera diminutiva Hogue, 1978
        • Blepharicera jordani (Kellogg, 1903)
        • Blepharicera micheneri (Alexander, 1959)
        • Blepharicera ostensackeni Kellogg, 1903
        • Blepharicera similans (Johannsen, 1929)
        • Blepharicera tenuipes (Walker, 1848)
        • Blepharicera williamsae (Alexander, 1953)
        • Blepharicera zionensis (Alexander, 1953)
      • Philorus
        • Philorus californicus Hogue, 1966
        • Philorus jacinto Hogue, 1966
        • Philorus vanduzeei Alexander, 1963
        • Philorus yosemite (Osten Sacken, 1877)
  • Subfamily Edwardsininae

Extinct genera
  • †Blephadejura Lukashevich et al. 2006 Daohugou, China, Callovian
  • †Brianina Zhang and Lukashevich 2007 Daohugou, China, Callovian
  • †Megathon Lukashevich and Shcherbakov 1997 Daohugou, China, Callovian, Ola Formation, Russia, Campanian
  • †Philorites Cockerell 1908 Green River Formation, Colorado, Eocene
  • †Sinotendipes Hong and Wang 1990 Laiyang Formation, China, Aptian

References

    Loew H. 1862. Monographs of the Diptera of North America. Part 1. Smithsonian Institution, Smithsonian Miscellaneous Collection 6(1): 1-221, fig. 1-3+1-12, 2 pls.

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