Nematocera
Encyclopedia
Nematocera is a suborder of elongated flies
with thin, segmented antennae
and mostly aquatic larva
e, consisting of the mosquitoes, crane flies
, gnat
s, and midge
s.
Nematocera are typically characterized by filamentous, multi-segmented antennae
which may be plumose in some males. Nematocera is a paraphyletic suborder, because one of its constituent families (Anisopodidae
) is apparently a sister taxon to the entire suborder Brachycera
; an alternative classification has been proposed in which the family Nymphomyiidae
(traditionally classified within the Blephariceromorpha
) is removed to its own suborder, the Archidiptera
, and all the remaining Nematoceran families are placed in a suborder called Eudiptera
– however, Eudiptera is also paraphyletic, and this classification has not been widely accepted. Largely due to its long history, the name Nematocera continues to be used.
Examples of the Nematocera include the mosquito
es (Culicidae), crane flies
(Tipulidae) and black flies
(Simuliidae). Many of the remaining families (especially Mycetophilidae
, Anisopodidae
and Sciaridae
), are called gnat
s, while others (especially Chironomidae
, Cecidomyiidae
and Ceratopogonidae
) are called midges
.
The larvae are mostly aquatic and have distinct head with mouthparts that may be modified for filter feeding. The pupa
e are orthorrhaphous
(meaning adults emerge from the pupa through a straight seam in the pupal cuticle). The body and legs of the adults are usually elongate and these flies often have relatively long abdomens.
Many species form mating swarms of males, and in some of these competition for females is extreme. Although many species (as larvae) have a strong association with water, even within a single family there may be a trend toward semiaquatic and terrestrial habitats.
Fly
True flies are insects of the order Diptera . They possess a pair of wings on the mesothorax and a pair of halteres, derived from the hind wings, on the metathorax...
with thin, segmented antennae
Antenna (biology)
Antennae in biology have historically been paired appendages used for sensing in arthropods. More recently, the term has also been applied to cilium structures present in most cell types of eukaryotes....
and mostly aquatic larva
Larva
A larva is a distinct juvenile form many animals undergo before metamorphosis into adults. Animals with indirect development such as insects, amphibians, or cnidarians typically have a larval phase of their life cycle...
e, consisting of the mosquitoes, crane flies
Crane fly
A crane fly is an insect in the family Tipulidae. Adults are very slender, long-legged flies that may vary in length from though tropical species may exceed to ....
, gnat
Gnat
A gnat is any of many species of tiny flying insects in the Dipterid suborder Nematocera, especially those in the families Mycetophilidae, Anisopodidae and Sciaridae.In British English the term applies particularly to Nematocerans of the family Culicidae...
s, and midge
Midge
A midge is a very small, two-winged flying insect. "Midge" may also refer to:-Real:* Midge Costanza , American politician* Mildred Gillars , aka "Midge", American broadcaster of Nazi propaganda during World War II...
s.
Nematocera are typically characterized by filamentous, multi-segmented antennae
Antenna (biology)
Antennae in biology have historically been paired appendages used for sensing in arthropods. More recently, the term has also been applied to cilium structures present in most cell types of eukaryotes....
which may be plumose in some males. Nematocera is a paraphyletic suborder, because one of its constituent families (Anisopodidae
Anisopodidae
Anisopodidae is a small cosmopolitan family of gnat-like flies known as wood gnats or window-gnats with 154 described extant species in 15 genera, and several described fossil taxa. Some species are saprophagous or fungivorous. They are mostly small to medium-sized flies, except the genera...
) is apparently a sister taxon to the entire suborder Brachycera
Brachycera
Brachycera is a suborder of Diptera. It is a major suborder consisting of around 120 families. The most distinguishing characteristic of the suborder is reduced antenna segmentation...
; an alternative classification has been proposed in which the family Nymphomyiidae
Nymphomyiidae
The Nymphomyiidae are a family of slender, delicate flies . Larvae are found among aquatic mosses in small, rapid streams in northern regions of the world. Many fossil species and a few extant species are known...
(traditionally classified within the Blephariceromorpha
Blephariceromorpha
Blephariceromorpha is an infraorder of Nematoceran flies, including three families associated with fast-flowing, high mountain streams, where the larvae can be found....
) is removed to its own suborder, the Archidiptera
Archidiptera
Archidiptera is a suborder of Diptera under an alternative classification based largely on fossil taxa; it has not gained wide acceptance among non-paleontological dipterists....
, and all the remaining Nematoceran families are placed in a suborder called Eudiptera
Eudiptera
Eudiptera is a suborder of Diptera under an alternative subordinal classification based largely on fossil taxa; it has not gained wide acceptance among non-paleontological dipterists and is presented here for comparative purposes only....
– however, Eudiptera is also paraphyletic, and this classification has not been widely accepted. Largely due to its long history, the name Nematocera continues to be used.
Examples of the Nematocera include the mosquito
Mosquito
Mosquitoes are members of a family of nematocerid flies: the Culicidae . The word Mosquito is from the Spanish and Portuguese for little fly...
es (Culicidae), crane flies
Crane fly
A crane fly is an insect in the family Tipulidae. Adults are very slender, long-legged flies that may vary in length from though tropical species may exceed to ....
(Tipulidae) and black flies
Black fly
A black fly is any member of the family Simuliidae of the Culicomorpha infraorder. They are related to the Ceratopogonidae, Chironomidae, and Thaumaleidae. There are over 1,800 known species of black flies . Most species belong to the immense genus Simulium...
(Simuliidae). Many of the remaining families (especially Mycetophilidae
Mycetophilidae
Mycetophilidae is a family of small flies, forming the bulk of those species known as fungus gnats. There are approximately 3000 described species in 150 genera but the true number of species is undoubtedly much higher...
, Anisopodidae
Anisopodidae
Anisopodidae is a small cosmopolitan family of gnat-like flies known as wood gnats or window-gnats with 154 described extant species in 15 genera, and several described fossil taxa. Some species are saprophagous or fungivorous. They are mostly small to medium-sized flies, except the genera...
and Sciaridae
Sciaridae
Sciaridae is a family of flies, commonly known as dark-winged fungus gnats. Commonly found in moist environments, they are known to be a pest of mushroom farms and are commonly found in household plant pots. This is one of the least studied of the large Diptera families, probably due to the small...
), are called gnat
Gnat
A gnat is any of many species of tiny flying insects in the Dipterid suborder Nematocera, especially those in the families Mycetophilidae, Anisopodidae and Sciaridae.In British English the term applies particularly to Nematocerans of the family Culicidae...
s, while others (especially Chironomidae
Chironomidae
Chironomidae are a family of nematoceran flies with a global distribution. They are closely related to the Ceratopogonidae, Simuliidae, and Thaumaleidae...
, Cecidomyiidae
Cecidomyiidae
Cecidomyiidae is a family of flies known as gall midges or gall gnats. As the name implies, the larvae of most gall midges feed within plant tissue, creating abnormal plant growths called galls.These are very fragile small insects usually only 2–3 mm in length and many are less than...
and Ceratopogonidae
Ceratopogonidae
Ceratopogonidae, or biting midges , are a family of small flies in the order Diptera...
) are called midges
Midge (insect)
Midges comprise many kinds of very small two-winged flies found world-wide. The term does not encapsulate a well-defined taxonomic group, but includes animals in several families of Nematoceran Diptera. While some midges are vectors for disease, many others play useful roles as prey items for...
.
The larvae are mostly aquatic and have distinct head with mouthparts that may be modified for filter feeding. The pupa
Pupa
A pupa is the life stage of some insects undergoing transformation. The pupal stage is found only in holometabolous insects, those that undergo a complete metamorphosis, going through four life stages; embryo, larva, pupa and imago...
e are orthorrhaphous
Orthorrhapha
Orthorrhapha is a circumscriptional name which historically was used for an infraorder of Brachycera, one of the two suborders into which the order Diptera, the flies, are divided. As the group was paraphyletic, it has not been used in classifications in the last decade, and is effectively...
(meaning adults emerge from the pupa through a straight seam in the pupal cuticle). The body and legs of the adults are usually elongate and these flies often have relatively long abdomens.
Many species form mating swarms of males, and in some of these competition for females is extreme. Although many species (as larvae) have a strong association with water, even within a single family there may be a trend toward semiaquatic and terrestrial habitats.