Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Borkent (2014) moved all North American species other than Sphaeromias to tribe Johannsenomyiini (which had not been recognized as a suprageneric taxon in recent years).
Numbers
~50 spp. in 7 genera in our area
(1), ~360 spp. in 28 genera worldwide
(2)Size
Large Ceratopogonidae, body length to 5 mm
Identification
Tarsomere 5 of female armed ventrally with stout black blunt spines (batonnets).
(3) Fourth tarsomeres usually cylindrical (Wirth 1962)
Remarks
Males typically do not have plumose antennae. Unlike most Ceratopogonidae and Chironomidae, where males use their antennae to listen for females, females in this tribe hunt for males. The male is usually eaten while mating.
North American genera
(2):
Johannsenomyia, 2 eastern spp.
Sphaeromias, 2 spp.
Mallochohelea, 11 spp.
Nilobezzia, 4 spp.
Jenkinshelea, 4 eastern spp.; grey pollinose, wing broad with angular anal lobe
Macropeza, 1 large sp., FL; generally brown with white fore tarsi
Probezzia, 22 spp.; usually with contrasting black and white markings
Print References
Wirth, W.W. 1962. A reclassification of the Palpomyia-Bezzia-Macropeza groups, and a revision of the North American Sphaeromiini (Diptera, Ceratopogonidae). Annals of the Entomological Society of America 55: 272-287.
Wirth, W. W., and W. L. Grogan, Jr. 1978. Natural history of Plummer's lsland, Maryland. XXIV. Biting midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae). 2. The species of the tribes Heteromyiinae and Sphaeromiinae. Proc. biol. Soc. Wash. 9l: 847-903.
Contributed by
John F. Carr on 5 August, 2010 - 5:52pm
Additional contributions by
v belovLast updated 12 February, 2015 - 8:10am
