Dixidae
Dixidae Temporal range:
| |
---|---|
Dixa nebulosa | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Insecta |
Order: | Diptera |
Superfamily: | Culicoidea |
Family: | Dixidae Schiffner, 1868 |
Genera | |
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
Dixidae are small (body length not more than 5.0 mm) slender gnats with thin legs. Adults are black to yellowish-brown.
Evolutionary history
The oldest known fossils of the group come from the Jurassic of Asia, assigned to the extinct genera Syndixa and Eucorethrina, members of modern genera are not known until the Eocene.[5]
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. Archived from the original on 2009-03-05. Retrieved 2007-06-30.
- ISBN 0-900386-60-6.
- )
- ISSN 1094-8074.
Further reading
- Lindner , E 193 1. Dixinae (Culicidae) 3, 11–12, 1-43 In: Lindner, E. (Ed.). Die Fliegen der Paläarktischen 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