Blephariceridae

Taxobox
name = Net-winged midges
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Arthropoda
classis = Insecta
subclassis = Pterygota
infraclassis = Neoptera
superordo = Endopterygota
ordo = Diptera
subordo = Nematocera
infraordo = Blephariceromorpha
familia = Blephariceridae
subdivision_ranks = Subfamily
subdivision = *Blepharicerinae

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 there are dozens of genera worldwide, and over 200 species.

They are found near fast flowing streams which the larvae inhabit. Blepharicerid larvae are filter feeders and have suckers on their abdominal tergites, 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

*Subfamily Blepharicerinae
**Tribe Blepharicerini
***genus "Agathon" Rodor, 1890
****species "Agathon arizonica" (Alexander, 1958)
****species "Agathon aylmeri" (Garrett, 1923)
****species "Agathon comstocki" (Kellogg, 1903)
****species "Agathon dismalea" (Hogue, 1970)
****species "Agathon doanei" (Kellogg, 1900)
****species "Agathon elegantulus" Roder, 1890
****species "Agathon markii" (Garrett, 1925)
****species "Agathon sequoiarum" (Alexander, 1952)
***genus "Bibiocephala"
****species "Bibiocephala grandis" Osten Sacken, 1874
***genus "Blepharicera" Macquart, 1843
****species "Blepharicera appalachiae" Hogue and Georgian, 1986
****species "Blepharicera capitata" (Loew, 1863)
****species "Blepharicera cherokea" Hogue, 1978
****species "Blepharicera coweetae" Hogue and Georgian, 1985
****species "Blepharicera diminutiva" Hogue, 1978
****species "Blepharicera jordani" (Kellogg, 1903)
****species "Blepharicera micheneri" (Alexander, 1959)
****species "Blepharicera ostensackeni" Kellogg, 1903
****species "Blepharicera similans" (Johannsen, 1929)
****species "Blepharicera tenuipes" (Walker, 1848)
****species "Blepharicera williamsae" (Alexander, 1953)
****species "Blepharicera zionensis" (Alexander, 1953)
***genus "Edwardsina"
****species "Edwardsina gigantea" Zwick, 1977
****species "Edwardsina tasmaniensis" Tonnoir, 1924
***genus "Philorus"
****species "Philorus californicus" Hogue, 1966
****species "Philorus jacinto" Hogue, 1966
****species "Philorus vanduzeei" Alexander, 1963
****species "Philorus yosemite" (Osten Sacken, 1877)

External links

* [http://www.tolweb.org/Blephariceromorpha/10490 Tree of Life Blephariceromorpha]