Large Fungus Gnat - Leptomorphus nebulosus

Chris,

Thanks for coming back and getting this one nailed down to species!

… tom murray, 3 December, 2008 - 4:53pm

Moved

Moved from Platyura.

… tom murray, 28 February, 2007 - 4:26pm

Moved

Peter, thanks for the id!

… tom murray, 20 December, 2006 - 6:47pm

This is a tricky one

Hi All

This is actually a Mycetophilidae in the strictest sense, not a Keroplatidae. It is a member of the genus Leptomorphus in the subfamily Sciophilinae. I'll provide you with the species name tomorrow when I return to my office where the species descriptions are. I actually have the good fortune to be working on this pretty genus as part of my thesis work that I've just started. It's certainly a beautiful shot, mind if I use it in my upcoming thesis proposal seminar (with full credit of course!)? Happy fungus gnat hunting.

… Chris Borkent, 26 February, 2007 - 9:29pm

Thanks Chris

You can use this image in your thesis, and thanks for making sure this is identified correctly.

… tom murray, 28 February, 2007 - 4:29pm

Species name

This is probably the species L. nebulosus but may be L. bifasciatus. Hard to tell with out a microscope and some dissecting equipment!

… Chris Borkent, 27 February, 2007 - 3:09pm

Leptomorphus nebulosus

On further contemplation this appears to definitely be Leptomorphus nebulosus.

… Chris Borkent, 2 December, 2008 - 12:38pm

Whoah!

I am quite certain that this is actually a fungus gnat in the Mycetophilidae. Some can get quite large, and those tibial spurs on the legs are absent in crane flies. What an amazing specimen! Even looks like it mimics a wasp.

… Eric R. Eaton, 24 June, 2005 - 3:21pm

Looks like...

Platyura sp. (Keroplatidae). These guys are awesome!

… PeterKerr, 20 December, 2006 - 5:37pm

Thanks Eric

This one really fooled me. It was the size of a cranefly, and as you state, it looks like a wasp.

… tom murray, 24 June, 2005 - 8:09pm