Dixidae
The Dixidae (meniscus midges), also called by some "bloodmoochers" are a family of aquatic nematoceran 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.
Wing venation
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 wingveins 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 male is inverted at 180 degrees by torsion of segments 5–8.
Identification
- 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 .
References
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