Genus Ochthera

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)

Class Insecta (Insects)

Order Diptera (Flies)

No Taxon ("Acalyptratae")

Superfamily Ephydroidea

Family Ephydridae (Shore Flies)

Subfamily Gymnomyzinae

Genus Ochthera

Explanation of Names

Ochthera Latreille 1802

Numbers

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

Size

4‒5 mm

Identification

forelegs raptorial

key to species in (2)

Range

much of NA(1) and the world

Habitat

most adults near water; larvae mostly aquatic/semi-aquatic

Food

Adults feed on small insects (incl. small flies and planthoppers) grasped with raptorial forelimbs, and can excavate prey from soil using protibial spines; larvae prey primarily on immature Chironomidae(1)

Works Cited

1.	Manual of Nearctic Diptera Volume 2 Varies for each chapter; edited by J.F. McAlpine, B.V. Petersen, G.E. Shewell, H.J. Teskey, J.R. Vockeroth, D.M. Wood. 1987. Research Branch Agriculture Canada.

2.	Revision of the Nearctic, Neotropical, and Palearctic Species of the Genus Ochthera Philip J. Clausen. 1977. American Entomological Society.

Contributed by Robin McLeod on 9 April, 2005 - 9:45am
Additional contributions by cotinis, Beatriz Moisset, v belov, Spencer_pote
Last updated 24 August, 2023 - 9:56pm

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