Ptychopteridae

Taxobox
name = Phantom crane flies
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Arthropoda
subphylum = Hexapoda
classis = Insecta
subclassis = Pterygota
infraclassis = Neoptera
superordo = Endopterygota|
ordo = Diptera
subordo = Nematocera
infraordo = Ptychopteromorpha
familia = Ptychopteridae
subdivision_ranks = Genera
subdivision = "Ptychoptera"
"Bittacomorpha"
"Bittacomorphella"

Ptychopteridae, the Phantom Crane Flies is a small family (three extant genera) of Nematocerous Diptera. Superficially similar in appearance to other "Tipuloid" families, they lack the ocelli of Trichoceridae, the 5-branched radial vein of Tanyderidae, and the two anal veins that reach the wing margin of Tipulidae. They are usually allied with the Tanyderidae based on similarities of the mesonotal suture; this group being called the Ptychopteromorpha.

Life History

Egg
"Ptychoptera albimana" (Paleartic) has a mean of 554 eggs laid. The shape being slightly arcuated, "curiously ornamented" and roughly 0.8mm X 0.2mm. Duration is reported at 7 days.

Larvae
The Larvae are eucephalous and distinctive for the long, caudal respiratory siphon they possess. At hatching they measure just under 4mm in "P. albimana", quickly growing to nearly 80mm. They occur in moist habitats (described as "wet swales and meadows" for "Ptychoptera"; along lentic shorelines and Alder swamps for "Bittacomorpha") where they feed as collector-gatherers on decaying organic matter.

Pupae
The pupae possess a single, greatly-elongate spiracular horn from their thorax. In "Ptychoptera" and "Bittacomorpha" it is the right horn that is elongated; in "Bittacomorphella" it is the left. Reported times spent in this stage vary from 5 to 12 days.

Adult
The adults are found most often from late spring through to autumn in shaded, moist environs. It is presumed that adults feed little, if at all. There are two generations per year.

The common species of Eastern North America ("Bittacomorpha clavipes") is known for the odd habit of spreading out its legs while flying, using expanded, trachea-rich tarsi to waft along on air currents.

ubfamilies

Ptychopterinae - 16 antennomeres; M₁ cell present
#"Ptychoptera" Meigen 1803Bittacomorphinae - 20 antennomeres; M_{1 & M2 veins fused, thus without M1 cell
#"Bittacomorpha" Westwood 1835
#"Bittacomorphella" Alexander 1916}

The general appearance of the two forms is strikingly different. The species of Bittacomorphinae are similar in size and shape to the Tipulidae but exhibit a striking black & white coloration, from whence the common name of 'Phantom Crane Flies' derives. The two genera differ as adults in their size and the extent of white coloration on the legs. The larvae of "Bittacomorphella" possess unique protuberences not seen in the other two genera. "Ptychoptera" resemble large Mycetophilids, being generally a shiny black and often with patterned wings.

North American Species

" [http://bugguide.net/node/view/12422/bgimage Bittacomorpha] " Westwood 1835
"Bittacomorpha clavipes" Fabricius 1781
*The most common and distinctive species, found from Eastern NA to the edge of the Rocky Mountains (though not as abundant in the Plains states)"Bittacomorpha occidentalis" Aldrich 1895
*Restricted to the Pacific Northwest
" [http://bugguide.net/node/view/58062/bgimage Bittacomorphella] " Alexander 1916
"Bittacomorphella jonesi" Johnson 1905
*The only Eastern species, ranges from New England down to North Carolina, with records from Minnesota and Michigan"Bittacomorphella fenderiana" Alexander 1947
"Bittacomorphella pacifica" Alexander 1958
"Bittacomorphella sackenii" Röder 1890
*These three species have been confused in the literature. Alexander delimited them based on the male hypopygium. "B. fenderiana" is the most northerly, found from Queen Charlotte Island down to Northern Oregon. "B. pacifica" occurs from Northern California up through Oregon (possibly Washington?). "B. sackenii" has a range in the Sierra Nevadas.
" [http://bugguide.net/node/view/70223/bgimage Ptychoptera] " Meigen 1803
"Ptychoptera byersi" Alexander 1966

*From California"Ptychoptera lenis" Osten Sacken 1877
*Divided into 2 subspecies: "P. l. lenis" & "P. l. coloradensis", thought to be most closely related to "P. pendula"; ranges through the Pacific Northwest & Colorado/Utah respectively"Ptychoptera metallica" Walker 1848
*Known from Central Canada, Minnesota & Michigan"Ptychoptera minor" Alexander 1920

*From California/Idaho"Ptychoptera monoensis" Alexander 1947
*From Northern California; similar to "P. pendula" & "P. townesi""Ptychoptera osceola" Alexander 1959
*From Florida; similar to "P. quadrifasciata""Ptychoptera pendula" Alexander 1937
*Ranges from British Columbia down to Utah and Colorado; similar to "P. minor""Ptychoptera quadrifasciata" Say 1824
*Synonymous with P. rufocinctus; range includes much of Eastern US"Ptychoptera sculleni" Alexander 1943
*From Pacific Northwest; considered to be fairly distinct based on male genitalia"Ptychoptera townesi" Alexander 1943
*From Washington & Oregon; similar to "P. pendula""Ptychoptera uta" Alexander 1947
*From Utah; similar to "P. l. coloradensis"

References

*Alexander, C.P. 1928. Diptera. Fam. Ptychopteridae. Genera Insectorum 188: 1-12
*Borror, D.J., C.A. Triplehorn, & N.A. Johnson. 1989. "An Introduction to the Study of Insects", Sixth edition. Saunders College Publishing.
*Byers, G.W. & D.A. Rossman. 2004. Preliminary survey of the crane flies of Louisiana (Diptera: Tipulidae, Ptychopteridae). Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington, 106: 884–890.
*Stubbs, A.E. 1993. "Provisional Atlas of the Ptychopteroid Craneflies (Diptera: Ptychopteridae) of Britain and Ireland." Centre for Ecology and Hydrology.
*Zwick, P. 2004. Fauna Europaea: Ptychopteridae. In: "Fauna Europaea: Diptera: Nematocera." H. DeJong, ed.

External links

* [http://www.lesinsectesduquebec.com/insecta/29-diptera/Bittacomorpha_clavipes.htm Ptychopteridae at Insects of Quebec webpage]
* [http://www.troutnut.com/naturals/other/other_44_2.jpgPhotograph of larva at Troutnut.com website]