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Photo#298116
gnat - Proceroplatus elegans

gnat - Proceroplatus elegans
Cross Plains, Dane County, Wisconsin, USA
July 2, 2009
Size: ~5-7mm

Images of this individual: tag all
gnat - Proceroplatus elegans gnat - Proceroplatus elegans

Moved
Moved from Proceroplatus.

I disagree with the diagnosis
I disagree with the diagnosis. In the photographs we can see no drooping palpi, in fact, I see no obvious palps at all. I believe this is in the Keroplatini. I can't tell how the tibial setae are arranged, but if they are in lines, my best bet would be Rocetelion. In any case, there is no evidence for placement in Orfeliini from the photographs.

 
Well,
as already mentioned earlier: it is hard to judge from what is visible from both pictures, but if you have had once Proceroplatus specimens handy for investigation you will fully agree with my ID. Also the placement of this genus within Orfeliini will easily resolve with higher magnification. Probably, you will find some specimens in the CUAC at your university as they were often found in sommer samples.

so long,

Moved
Moved from Keroplatini.

Moved

Moved
Moved from Flies.

 
Indeed
Very nice find and new to BG: Proceroplatus sp. (Sciaroidea: Keroplatidae: Keroplatinae: Orfeliini).

so long,

 
Antennae
I thought the antennae looked flattened as in the Keroplatini. See Matthias Buck's comment on other photo. The palps also look short.

 
Keroplatini vs. Orfeliini
Well, Matthias Buck and you are right in saying compressed antennae and short palps are the distinguish features to seperate Keroplatini from Orfeliini. The palpus consists usually of five segments. In Keroplatini only three are present. The two basal segments are very small and only detectable with the aid of a microscope. The third segment is in Keroplatini also short and would not show up in such an image. Moreover, flattened antennae is not an exclusive feature of Keroplatini and is known from some genera within Orfeliini. Additionally, the wing pattern and habitus strongly supports Proceroplatus (Keroplatinae: Orfeliini).

so long,

 
P. elegans?
Can this be anything other than P. elegans? It matches the original description of Platyura elegans Coquillett 1895, except for having darker legs, and no other species has been recorded north of the Gulf coast as far as I can tell.

 
Perhaps.....
According to the known distribution P. elegans is the most probable candidate. It differs from the other species in coloration, but this is a weak character you should never believe in. I can only tell you with certainty what it is if specimens handy for microscopic studies. However, the entire US is under sampled in the respect to "Fungus Gnats" and I would not wonder if there more Proceroplatus species will pop up beside the three known.

so long,

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