ORDER DIPTERA (true flies) with special reference to those found in Utah

6 – Ceratopogonid larva Morphology larvae: Most common genera are small, thin, and elongate; tapered at both ends Fig.. Northern Utah, streams probably widespread.. Northern Utah, river

ORDER: DIPTERA (true flies)

with special reference to those found in Utahprepared by: G Hughes, & G Hughes, October 2006revised by: D J Betts, November 2008

Diagnosing Features, adults:

One pair of wings (Fig 1);

Halteres – reduced hind wings that aid in flight; gyroscope-like function (Fig 1);Diverse mouthparts including: piercing, sucking, cutting, and lapping or sponging(plesiomorphic biting and chewing type are not represented)

Diagnosing Features, larvae:

Lacking paired legs on thorax, but diverse form otherwise (Fig 2, 4, 8, 12);

Variety of “worm” shapes (Fig 2, 4, 9, 10, 23, 27, 31, 39).

Habitat: Larval forms are found in nearly all aquatic habitat types, excluding the open

ocean Adults are semi-aquatic and terrestrial

Trophic Habits: Nearly all trophic groups are represented.

Development: Holometabolous.

Preservation: Larvae and pupae preserved in alcohol Adults can be pointed or pinned

Long-legged forms (adults) are frequently preserved in alcohol Preserving outside of alcohol, long-legged forms should initially be laterally flattened in glassine envelopes then pointed by gluing right side of thorax to the point, with the legs directed toward the pin

Notes: In the number of species, Dipterans are the most diverse aquatic group Among

the aquatic Diptera, the majority are of the suborder Nematocera Most if not all of the larvae of several nematocerous families are aquatic The suborder Brachycera is also well represented in aquatic habitats Nematocera is a paraphyletic group because the descendants of their common ancestor would include the Brachycera The nematocerans are the mosquito-like flies, and the brachycerans are more robust When in doubt, with

respect to Diptera the answer is: Voluptuous.

Fig 1 – Adult crane fly Fig 2 – Tabanid larvae

Approximately 6 (or many more) antennal segments (Fig 3);

Usually delicate flies with long leg (Fig 1, 3).

Fig 3 – Adult mosquito (Culicidae)

Fig 4 – Agathon larva (ventral) Fig 5 – Agathon larva (dorsal)

Morphology (larvae):

Head and thorax and at least one abdominal segment fused, with an

additional six body divisions bearing sucker disks (Fig 4, 5)

Morphology (adults):

Creases in wings in addition to he veins

Ecology: scrapers in torrents of waterfalls and fast riffles; limited to high gradient

streams, usually running over igneous or metamorphic rock, rarely on limestone

FAMILY: CERATOPOGONIDAE (no-see-ums; biting midges)

Fig 6 – Ceratopogonid larva

Morphology (larvae):

Most common genera are small, thin, and elongate; tapered at both ends (Fig 6);

Head capsule apparent;

Some with a single thoracic proleg;

Many with setae and tubercles

Morphology (adults):

M vein branched (wings);

Small, with biting mouthparts in females;

Males with constricted, plumose antennae

Ecology: collectors and predators; many live on the margins of deep water in silty

substrates where they are burrowers

Utah Genera:

SUBFAMILY Dasyheleinae

Dasyheila (2 or more species) Common; may be present in algae mats;

presumably widespread Utah species are D grisea and D mutabilis (?).

SUBFAMILY Forcipomyinae

Atrichopogon Probably occurs in Utah on wet stones, floating logs, or algae in

streams or ponds

Forcipomyia calcarata (Coquillett) Common; may be aquatic as some species are

found in moss, etc presumably widespread

SUBFAMILY Ceratopogoninae

Culicoides (about 20 species) Abundant; in a wide variety of ponds rich in

organic mater, in fresher edges of Great Salt Lake

Palpomyia Occurring in a wide variety of lakes, ponds and streams in the muddy

or sandy margins or bottoms, often occurring in algae mats; presumably widespread

FAMILY: CHAOBORIDAE (phantom midges; lake flies; glass worms)

Fig 7 – Live Chaoboridae larva

Chaoborus americanus (Johannsen) Common to abundant locally in Uinta and

Wasatch Mountains; chiefly in small shallow lakes or permanent pools of

moderate to large size Chaoborus punctipennis (Say) and Chaoborus flavicans

(Morgan) may also occur in Utah

Mochlonyx velutinus (Ruthe) Uncommon in Uinta and Wasatch Mountains; in

small temporary or semi-permanent pools

Eucorethra underwoodi Underwood Uncommon throughout Wasatch and Uinta

Mountains; in small to moderate sized semi-permanent or permanent pools,

especially in the woods.

FAMILY: CHIRONOMIDAE (midges)

Morphology (larvae):

Prothorax with single proleg (Fig 8);

Prolegs of abdomen complex (Fig 9)

Morphology (adults):

Scutellum with midline suture;

Prominent plumose antennae (especially in males);

Front tarsi elongated;

M unbranched in long, narrow wings

Ecology: Chironomids are the most species rich group of aquatic insects; they are diverse

in their life histories and habits as well

Figures:

Fig 8 – Single thoracic proleg of a chironomid Fig 9 – Chironomid larva

Utah Genera:

SUBFAMILY Tanypodinae

Tanypus (2 or more species) Probably widespread, lakes and streams.

Derotanypus (1 or more species) Northern Utah, lakes and streams.

Allotanypus venustrus Salt Lake County.

Psectrotanypus (4 or more species) Northern Utah.

Thienemannimyia barberi Green River.

Ablebesmyia (2 or more species) Northern Utah.

Conchepolopia geniodes Dinosaur Natl Park

Paramerina (4 or more species) Northern Utah.

Procladius (4 or more species) Ponds and streams, northern Utah.

SUBFAMILY Podonominae

Podonomus (1 or more species) Streams.

SUBFAMILY Diamesinae

Diamesa (8 or more species) Streams, probably widespread.

Pagastia partica Provo River.

Pseudodiamesa (3 or more species) Common Probably widespread.

Heptagyia (1 or more species) Uncommon Streams (Mill Creek).

Prodiamesa (2 or more species) Streams (Mill Creek).

SUBFAMILY Orthocladiinae

Brilla (1 species) Common Mill Creek.

Eukiefferiella (1 or more species) Uncommon San Juan and Colorado Rivers Nanocladius (16 or more species) Northern Utah, streams (probably widespread) Orthocladius (10 or more species) Widespread In streams.

Symbiocladius equitans (Claassen) Widespread As a commensal or parasite

under the wing pads of Rhithrogena mayflies.

Cricotopus (13 or more species) Northern Utah; widespread?

Rheocricotopus (4 or more species) In streams, Northern Utah; widespread? Psectrocladius (8 or more species) Widespread, streams and rivers.

Corynoneura (2 or more species) Northern Utah, in streams.

SUBFAMILY Chironominae

Chirnomus (10 or more species) Abundant; widespread; lakes, ponds and

streams C utahensis has very large hatches whenever marshes are ice free along

Great Salt Lake

Cryptochironomus (4 or more species) Northern Utah, widespread? Lakes and

marshes

Dicrotendipes (5 or more species) Northern Utah; widespread? Lakes and

streams

Glyptotendipes (3 or more species) Widespread, marshes.

Microtendipes (2 or more species) Widespread in Utah, lakes and rivers.

Paratendipesi (1 or more species) Uncommon Widespread.

Phaenopsectra (3 or more species) Northern Utah, creeks, reservoirs and

marshes

Polypedilum (3 or more species) Widespread in Utah, lakes and streams.

Pseudochironomus richardsoni Northern Utah, marshes.

Stictochironomus (3 or more species) Northern Utah, rivers, lakes and creeks Microspectra (5 or more species) Common, Northern Utah, creeks and rivers Stempellina (1 or more species) Uncommon, Mill Creek.

Tanytarsus (4 or more species) Widespread in Utah.

Atanytarsus vanderwulpi Northern Utah.

Rheotanytarsus (1 or more species) Widespread in Utah rivers and creeks.

Zavrelia (1 or more species).

FAMILY: CULICIDAE (mosquitoes)

Fig 10 - Psorophora larva Fig 11- Toxorhynchites and Orthopodomyia

larvae

Morphology (larvae):

Most with a tubular siphon at the apex of the abdomen (Fig 10, 11), but not in

the tribe Anophelini (Fig 12, 13));

Mouth brushes prominent;

Thorax fused into a single segment

Morphology (adults):

Long proboscis;

Scales on wing veins and on the mouthparts of males

Ecology: Found in stagnant waters, including habitats as small as tree holes or tuna fish

cans They can be very numerous (and thus important) in these habitats Of course

mosquitoes are very important because they are blood feeders that often serve as vectors for serious human and other animal diseases.

Figures:

Fig 12 – Anopheles larvae close to the surface

because of the highly reduced siphon

Fig 13 – Anopheles at surface (dorsal view)

Utah Genera:

Aedes (26 species) Abundant; mountains and valleys in temporary pools;

widespread

Anopheles (3 species) Common in valleys at elevations below 7000 ft; in

permanent or semi-permanent freshwater pools or marshes; widespread

Culex (8 species) Abundant in valleys at elevations below 7500 ft, primarily in

semi-permanent or permanent pools of marshes Cx pipiens and tarsalis also in

artificial containers or gutters in urban areas; widespread

Culiesta (6 species) Abundant in valleys and mountainous areas in

semi-permanent or semi-permanent pools

Mansonia pertubans (Walker) Common locally in valleys along Wasatch front in

northern Utah; restricted to permanent ponds and marshes as larvae and pupae respire through air spaces in roots or stems of submerged aquatic vegetation

Psorophora signipennis (Coquillett) Reported only from Dugway, Utah, where it

is uncommon; occurs in temporary desert pools

Orthopodomyia signifera (Coquillett) Tree-hole species occurring in cottonwoods

in southeast Utah

FAMILY: DEUTEROPHLEBIIDAE (mountain midges)

Fig 14 – Deuterophlebiid larva (dorsal view) Fig 15 – Ventral view

Morphology (larvae):

Seven pairs of prologs projecting ventrolaterally (Fig 14, 15);

Apices of prologs encircled by transverse rows of hooked spinules (Fig 15);

Head capsule complete;

Antennae forked, longer than length of head (Fig 14).

Morphology (pupae):

Small, dark and lense-shaped.

Morphology (adults):

Fan shaped wings;

Males have extremely long antennae

Ecology: Larvae and pupae are found on the surfaces of rocks in swiftly-flowing streams Utah Genera:

Deuterophlebia coloradensis Pennak Uncommon except locally; on rocks in fast

streams; northern Utah (abundant in lower Ashley Creek near Vernal, Utah)

FAMILY: DIXIDAE (meniscus midges)

Fig 16 – Meringodixa larva

Morphology (larvae):

Paired crochet-bearing prolegs on ventral surface of abdominal segments 1 and 2 (Fig 17);

Posterior abdomen with two flattened dorsolateral post-spiracular lobes with setose margins (Fig 16, 18, 19) The lobes project above a conical, dorsally-sclerotized

segment bearing the terminal anus and anal papillae;

Thoracic segments individually distinguishable;

Thorax and abdomen about equal in diameter or abdomen wider;

Setae on thoracic and abdominal segments not tufted and anal fan of terminal segment absent

Ecology: Larvae live on the surface films of freshwater streams and ponds Posterior and

dorsal setae allow the larvae to cling to surface film (Fig 16)

Figures:

Fig 17 – Abdominal prolegs

(ventral side up)

Fig 18 – Posterior abdominal lobes (dorsal) Fig 19 – Posterior abdominallobes (ventral)

which, with the plates, give a grayish brown appearance to the larva;

At most, only a single anal proleg present (Fig 21);

Thoracic segments individually distinguishable; Thorax and abdomen about equal

in diametder or abdomen wider;

Setae on thoracic and abdominal segments not tufted and anal fan of terminal segment absent;

Posterior abdominal segments lacking long filamentous processes (compare to Tanyderidae)

Amphipneustic respiratory structures; posterior spiracles usually at apex of a relatively short respiratory tube

Ecology: larvae often live in aquatic habitats with low oxygen levels, including bathroom

plant trickling filters, and in household drains, etc

Pericoma (1 or more species) Uncommon; Mill Creek.

Telmatoscopus (1 or more species) Uncommon; Mill Creek.

FAMILY: PTYCHOPTERIDAE (phantom crane flies)

Fig 22 – Ptychopterid larva

Morphology (larvae):

Very long long siphon with terminal spiracle and two projections at apex

of abdomen (Fig 22);

First three segments of abdomen bearing prominent prolegs.

Multiple ridges and papillae on abdomen

Morphology (adults):

Haltere with a projection at base called the prehaltere;

R vein with four branches (wings).

Ecology: Collectors and shredders in mucky backwaters with leaf litter and organic

matter

Utah Genera:

Bittacomorpha clavipes (Fabricius) Uncommon; larvae in shallow water heavily

filled with vegetation; northern Wasatch and Uinta Mountains Larvae from Butte Creek and Whiskey Spring in Daniels Canyon

Ptychoptera (3 species) Widespread in mountains of northern and central Utah

Utah species are P lania Osten Sacken, P pendula Alexander, and P uta

Alexander

FAMILY: SIMULIIDAE (black flies)

Fig 23 – Prosimulium larva Fig 24 – Simulium larva

Morphology (larvae):

Body club-shaped, with largest end at the tip of abdomen (Fig 23);

Cephalic fans (Fig 24)

Morphology (adults):

Very stocky and hump backed:

Wings broad, anterior veins strgon with posterior veins weak and poorly developed.

Ecology: Collectors in currents of lotic habitats, filtering out fine particulate organic

matter; prefer the strongest part of the current; compete for territory; they use silk to attach to substrates sometimes extending long lines to drift into the current before reeling themselves back in

Utah Genera:

Cnephia (4 species) Uncommon except locally in mountain streams of northern

Utah

Eusimulium (7species) Abundant; in running waters; widespread.

Prosimulium (8 species) Abundant; in running waters; widespread.

Simulium (22 species) Abundant; in running waters; esp some temporary

Fig 25 Fig 26 – Terminal abdominal segments

Morphology (larvae):

Last two abdominal segments with pairs long filamentous processes (Fig 25,

26) arising laterally on the next to last segment, dorsolaterally on the anal segment (near

the apex of prolegs);

Prolegs (2) on anal segment only; prolegs elongate and cylindracal, projecting

posteroventrally;

Thoracic segments individually distinguishable Thorax and abdomen about equal

in diameter or abdomen wider;

Setae on thoracic and abdominal segment not tufted and anal fan of terminal segment absent

Ecology: semi-aquatic in habits Larvae often found in wet rotten wood, or in sandy

stream margins; adults on riparian vegetation

Utah Genera:

Protanyderus margarita Alexander Uncommon; small streams with rock and

sand bottoms; the adult was described from Zion National Park, Utah; larvae have been collected from the Virgin River at Springdale in October

FAMILY: TIPULIDAE (crane flies)

Fig 27 – Hexatoma larva

Head capsule usually with longitudinal incisions of varying depths dorsolaterally.

Morphology (adults):

“V” on mesonotum;

Many veins in wings; R usually with 5 branches;

Long, slender legs which break off easily

Ecology: Shredders, scrapers, and predators; many live in rich black muck in marshes

and near springs; some live in creeks and streams; they can be very numerous in leaf packs (and thus important as shredders)

Figures:

Fig 28 – Prionocera terminal

segments

Fig 29 – Holorusia terminal

segments Fig 30 – Partially retracted head capsule of a Prionocera

larva

Utah Genera:

Antocha monticola Alexander Common; abundant locally in silken cases on rocks

in cool streams; north and central Utah mountains

Cryptolabis (3 species) Uncommon; widespread Found in sand in clear, cold

seeps; central Utah

Erioptera (26 species) Common; some species in wet sand or mud; widespread Gonomyia (18 species) Common; in wet mud and sand at edge of streams;

widespread

Hexatoma (3 species) Common; in streams and rivers; the mature larvae on the

wet banks; widespread in mountains

Holorusia grandis (update species name for this) (Bergoth) Common; in a wide

variety of streams in silty areas and in dense leaf packs; widespread

Linophila (1 or more species) Reported from Huntington Creek by Winget

(1972)

Limonia (21 species) Common; widespread At edges of ponds, lakes and

streams

Pedicia (2 species) Common; edges, in streams and brooks, saturated leaves and

moss; northern and central Utah

Phyllolabis zionensis Alexander Uncommon; known only from Zion National

Park, Utah May not be aquatic