Diptera blephariceridae Larvae – “Net-winged Midge”

The Diptera blephariceridae, better known as a Net-Winged Midge, is a member of the order Diptera. It’s taxonomic family is the Blephariceriadae. (Bugguide.net, 2011) This particular organism happens to be a Larva of the Diptera blephariceridae. This particular species can be fairly uncommon and contains roughly 320 sub species. (Bugguide.net, 2011) Diptera blephariceridae larvae posses six ventral suckers on the underside of their bodies. These ventral suckers are used to suction on to rocks and surfaces in high rapid areas, one of their preferred habitual areas. (Courtney, n.d.)

Location:

The Diptera blephariceridae can be found globally, Antarctica being the only continent that makes an exception, as well as a few larger islands around the world. Found in both hemispheres, there is a higher and more diverse range of Blephariceridae in the western world then anywhere else, tending to gather most typically near streams and rivers. (Bugguide.net, 2011)

Habitat:

Larvae tend to live in clean, cool, and well-oxygenated rapid streams. (Bugguide.net, 2011) Tending to prefer splash area on nearby rocks.(Courtney, n.d.) The adult Blephariceridae generally are found in Riparian zones and blephariceridae are often found resting on undersides of leaves in the riparian zones, while many other subspecies prefer resting on overhanging rock faces. (Bugguide.net, 2011)

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Behaviour:

They attach themselves by their ventral suckers to rocks or other smooth surfaces. Larvae often migrate to specific areas of the rock or stream. This process can take quite a long time as movement is through the slow reduction and placement of individual ventral suckers. (Wagner et al., 2007) Larvae can be found on single rocks in groups of a hundred or more all of them often facing the same direction. (Courtney, n.d.)

Diet:

Larval blepharicerids are primarily grazers. They feed on thin films of algae, bacteria, as well as other organic matter on submerged rocks. (Courtney, n.d.)  Diatoms are also a major component of their diet.(Courtney, n.d.) Females of many species variations are predators of other insects including Mayflies as well as stoneflies. (Bugguide.net, 2011)

 

Bibliography: 

Bugguide.net,. (2011). Family Blephariceridae – Net-winged Midges – BugGuide.Net. Retrieved 16 November 2014, from http://bugguide.net/node/view/62483

Courtney, G. Biology of Blephariceridae. Ent.iastate.edu. Retrieved 16 November 2014, from http://www.ent.iastate.edu/dept/research/systematics/bleph/biology.html

Frutiger, A. (2002). The function of the suckers of larval net-winged midges (Diptera: Blephariceridae). Freshwater Biology, 47(2), 293–302.

Wagner, R., Barták, M., Borkent, A., Courtney, G., Goddeeris, B., Haenni, J.-P., … Zwick, P. (2007). Global diversity of dipteran families (Insecta Diptera) in freshwater (excluding Simulidae, Culicidae, Chironomidae, Tipulidae and Tabanidae). Hydrobiologia, 595(1), 489–519.

 

Written by James Blumhagen