Genus Holcocephala

known commonly as "gnat ogres"

Holcocephala Say 1823

3 spp. in our area, ~40 total(1)

under 10 mm

The very widely spaced eyes almost eliminates all other genera in the US

Species ID: here

"fusca is very similar to abdominalis (they are functionally a pair of cryptic species). H. fusca was described (in a very short, two sentence paragraph!) as being distinct from abdominalis by having a general darker color. It was soon treated as a synonym of abdominalis and essentially forgotten. Recent observations show that individuals with the darker 'fusca' coloration also have more slender antennae and legs (1st flagellomere of antenna of abdominalis distinctly broader in middle - with a spindle-shape; fusca has a more elongate, parallel-sided flagellomere 1; hind tibia & basitarsis of abdominalis about 35% broader than hind femur, while only about 15% broader in fusca); and a slightly different aedeagus shape. So, now I am tentatively treating them as distinct spp." --Eric Fisher

"Based on what I've seen working through the University of Michigan museum collection, I personally reserve abdominalis for the ones that are clearly yellow/light tan with a big ol' swollen hind tibia. I call dingy darker brown ones with slightly swollen tibiae fusca, and throw my hands up in the air for the ones in the middle. One of these days, I might get around to doing a bunch of dissections to see what's going on myself." --Tristan McKnight, 18.ix.2014

primarily neotropical group, most diverse in S. America; in our area, e. US (west to WI-KS-TX) + ON; all three spp. are widespread(1)

Grassy open areas near woods.

Mid- to late summer

Gnats and small flying prey