Genus Gymnopternus

Classification · Synonyms and other taxonomic changes · Explanation of Names · Numbers · Identification · Remarks · Print References · Works Cited

Found on a leaf - Gymnopternus opacus - male

longlegged fly - Gymnopternus opacus - male

long-legged fly - Gymnopternus opacus - female

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)

Class Insecta (Insects)

Order Diptera (Flies)

No Taxon (Orthorrhapha)

Superfamily Empidoidea

Family Dolichopodidae (Longlegged Flies)

Subfamily Dolichopodinae

Genus Gymnopternus

Synonyms and other taxonomic changes

Gymnopternus Loew, 1857

Older species were described as Dolichopus.

Formerly considered part of Hercostomus by European workers.

Explanation of Names

From the Greek γυμνός, naked, and πτέρον, sole or heel, in reference to the bare hind basitarsus which has bristles in Dolichopus.

Numbers

Pollet et al.(1) list 76 species from America north of Mexico.

Identification

The most common genus of Dolichopodinae with R5 and M parallel and no strong bristles on the hind basitarsus.

Remarks

Robinson (1964)(2) keys 67 species from the eastern United States. Loew (1864) keys 29 species from the eastern United States, including all the common species.

Print References

Curran, C. H. 1933. Some North American Diptera. American Museum Novitates 682 (AMNH)

Loew, Hermann. 1864. Monographs of the diptera of North America, part II. (Google books: main list, supplemental list)

Robinson, Harold; Knowles, Marjorie (2008). The Robinson Expeditions to Spout Run, Arlington County, Virginia: Notes on Gymnopternus (Diptera: Dolichopodidae). Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington, 110(3), 562–576. doi:10.4289/07-068.562.1

Works Cited

1.	Catalog of the Dolichopodidae (Diptera) of America north of Mexico Marc A. A. Pollet et al. 2003. American Museum of Natural History.

2.	A Synopsis of the Dolichopodidae of the Southeastern United States and Adjacent Regions Harold Robinson. 1964. Entomological Society of America.

Contributed by tom murray on 25 October, 2006 - 9:03pm
Additional contributions by Bbarnd, Vox Sciurorum
Last updated 26 March, 2022 - 12:21am

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