Identification, Images, & Information
For Insects, Spiders & Their Kin
For the United States & Canada
Clickable Guide
Moths Butterflies Flies Caterpillars Flies Dragonflies Flies Mantids Cockroaches Bees and Wasps Walkingsticks Earwigs Ants Termites Hoppers and Kin Hoppers and Kin Beetles True Bugs Fleas Grasshoppers and Kin Ticks Spiders Scorpions Centipedes Millipedes

Calendar

TaxonomyBrowseInfoImagesLinksBooksData
Photo#796570
Biting Midge - Forcipomyia - female

Biting Midge - Forcipomyia - Female
Mobile (Dog River), Mobile County, Alabama, USA
June 30, 2013
Size: ~2mm
What's the difference between this Forcipomyia and this one, other than the obvious physical difference? Since I always see them both, is there any way of determining their species ... dissection or different photos? Thanks.

Moved

 
Where did you find info about
Where did you find info about species Z?

I have a female of one of these and it was keyed to subgenus Forcipomyia. The antennae, however, are very strange.

 
Z
I made a page named "Z" (after the photographer) for a bunch of flies that were probably all the same but I didn't know what they were. I figured it was likely to belong to subgenus Forcipomyia. I don't know if it is identifiable from photographs and literature.

 
I see. Thanks.
I see. Thanks.

Moved
Moved from Forcipomyia.

Male and female
This is a female. The other is male. They could be male and female of the same species, close to Forcipomyia (Forcipomyia) bipunctata.

I know of no way to distinguish species of subgenus Forcipomyia.

 
Guide Page
John,
Is my update to the guide page look OK?
Z

 
Maybe
Differences in wing color are likely restricted to a few subgenera. It would be simpler to go by the antenna rule -- long hair male, short hair female -- which works in this genus. The predatory genera may have reduced plumes.

Comment viewing options
Select your preferred way to display the comments and click 'Save settings' to activate your changes.