HomeGuideID RequestRecentFrassForumsDonateHelp

Clickable Guide

Calendar

Upcoming Events

Registration is open for the 2024 BugGuide gathering in Idaho July 24-27

Moth submissions from National Moth Week 2023

Photos of insects and people from the 2022 BugGuide gathering in New Mexico, July 20-24

Photos of insects and people from the Spring 2021 gathering in Louisiana, April 28-May 2

Photos of insects and people from the 2019 gathering in Louisiana, July 25-27

Photos of insects and people from the 2018 gathering in Virginia, July 27-29

Previous events

TaxonomyBrowse

Info

ImagesLinksBooksData

Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Flies (Diptera) » "Nematocera" (Non-Brachycera) » Gnats, Gall Midges, and March Flies (Bibionomorpha) » Fungus Gnats and Gall Midges (Sciaroidea) » Dark-winged Fungus Gnats (Sciaridae) » Sciara

Genus Sciara

Classification · Synonyms and other taxonomic changes · Explanation of Names · Numbers · Size · Habitat · Works Cited

Dark-winged Fungus Gnat - Sciara - female

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)

Class Insecta (Insects)

Order Diptera (Flies)

No Taxon ("Nematocera" (Non-Brachycera))

Infraorder Bibionomorpha (Gnats, Gall Midges, and March Flies)

Superfamily Sciaroidea (Fungus Gnats and Gall Midges)

Family Sciaridae (Dark-winged Fungus Gnats)

Genus Sciara

Synonyms and other taxonomic changes

Sciara Meigen 1803

Synonyms:

Lycoria Meigen, 1800 (suppressed by ICZN (1963): 339)

Molobrus Latreille, 1805

Nowickia Kjellander, 1943 [preocc.]

Nowickiana Kjellander, 1943 [replacement name for Nowickia Kjellander]

Semisciara Kjellander, 1943

Explanation of Names

Greek skiaros 'dark, shady'

Numbers

6 recognized species in our area.(1) (a large number of species recently moved to other genera)

Species: (range data from (1))

Sciara cingulata Rubsaamen, 1894 - Georgia, Mexico (Chiapas)

Sciara futilis Johannsen, 1912 - Wisconsin

Sciara hebes (Loew, 1869) - Holarctic

Sciara ochrolabis Loew, 1869 - CAN (QC); USA (MD, MN, NY, WI)

Sciara robusta Walker, 1848 - Ontario (male not known)

Sciara sciophila Loew, 1869 - USA (MA, OH, VT, VA, DC)

In addition, Mohrig et al (1) list 8 species originally described in Sciara as incertae sedis, thus their generic affinities are unclear. Species described by Thomas Say in Sciara are now treated as nomina dubia, as the types are lost and the descriptions are inadequate.

Size

Typically about 2 mm

Habitat

Potted plants, various decaying organic materials.

Works Cited

1.	Revision of the black fungus gnats (Diptera: Sciaridae) of North America Mohrig W., Heller K., Hippa H., Vilkamaa P., Menzel F. 2012. Studia dipterologica 19: 141–286.

Contributed by John F. Carr on 19 March, 2009 - 5:43pm
Additional contributions by Bbarnd, v belov
Last updated 5 May, 2015 - 7:20pm

Disclaimer: Dedicated naturalists volunteer their time and resources here to provide this service. We strive to provide accurate information, but we are mostly just amateurs attempting to make sense of a diverse natural world. If you need expert professional advice, contact your local extension office.

Contributors own the copyright to and are solely responsible for contributed content.
Click the contributor's name for licensing and usage information.
Everything else copyright © 2003-2024 Iowa State University, unless otherwise noted.

Bugguide is hosted by:

Printer Friendly Version