Ceratopogonidae

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Ceratopogonidae
Temporal range: Berriasian–Recent
BitingMidge.jpg
A female biting midge, Culicoides sonorensis
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Diptera
Suborder: Nematocera
Infraorder: Culicomorpha
Superfamily: Chironomoidea
Family: Ceratopogonidae
Newman, 1834
Subfamilies and tribes [1]

Ceratopogonidae is a family of flies commonly known as no-see-ums, or biting midges , generally 1–3 millimetres (1⁄16–1⁄8 in) in length. The family includes more than 5,000 species, [2] distributed worldwide, apart from the Antarctic and the Arctic.

Contents

Ceratopogonidae are holometabolous, meaning their development includes four life stages: egg, larva, pupa, and imago or adult. [3] Most common species in warmer climates will take about two to six weeks to complete a life cycle. Both adult males and females feed on nectar. Most females also feed on the blood of vertebrates, including humans, to get protein for egg-laying. Their bites are painful, and can cause intensely itchy lesions [4] due to the body producing histamines against the proteins from the midges' saliva. [5] [6] Their mouthparts are well-developed for cutting the skin of their hosts. Some species prey on other insects.

Larvae need moisture to develop, but also air and food. They are not strictly aquatic or terrestrial. [4]

Some species within the biting midges are thought to be predatory on other small insects. In particular, mosquito larvae have been investigated as common prey for biting midges in the genus Bezzia . For example, experiments have been conducted on the species Bezzia nobilis that suggest their reliance on mosquito larvae as one source of prey. [7] [8] They can also be hematophagous parasites of invertebrates, depending on whether the bloodsucking attack is fatal. [9]

Like other bloodsucking flies, Culicoides species can be vectors of disease-causing pathogens. Among diseases transmitted are the parasitic nematodes Mansonella , bluetongue disease, African horse sickness, epizootic hemorrhagic disease, arboviruses, [10] and nonviral animal pathogens. [11]

Historically, numbers were managed with the insecticide DDT [4] as with Leptoconops torrens populations in California. They can be trapped by luring them with carbon dioxide. Most midges are small enough to pass through ordinary insect window screening. They can be repelled with DEET, [4] oil of Eucalyptus , or Icaridin. Their larvae have also been shown to be susceptible to treatment with commercially available preparations of Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis . [12]

Subfamilies

The Leptoconopinae is a subfamily of biting midges. [13] The larvae are recognized by their unique sclerites of the head, and by their mouthparts.

The Forcipomyiinae are a subfamily of biting midges. In this subfamily, both anterior and posterior prolegs are present on the larvae. Larvae are both terrestrial and aquatic, and feed primarily on algae and fungi. Some species are important pollinators of tropical crops such as the cocoa bean.

Larvae of species in the Dasyheleinae subfamily are characterized by an anal segment with retractile posterior prolegs. Larvae are aquatic and adults do not feed on vertebrate blood, nor do they prey on other insects. They take nectar only, an unusual feeding behavior within the Ceratopogonidae.

The Ceratopogoninae subfamily has elongated larvae without prolegs or hooks. Most larvae of this subfamily are predatory. Adults generally take vertebrate blood or attack other insects. Most females in the subfamily Ceratopogoninae feed on insects similar to them in size.

The oldest known member of the family is Archiaustroconops besti from the Purbeck Group of Dorset, England, dating to the Berriasian, around 142 million years ago. [14]

Systematics

Basal lineages [15]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Culicomorpha</span> Infraorder of flies

The Culicomorpha are an infraorder of Nematocera, including mosquitoes, black flies, and several extant and extinct families of insects. They originated 176 million years ago, in the Triassic period. There are phylogenetic patterns that are used to interpret bionomic features such as differences in the nature of blood-feeding by adult females, daytime or nighttime feeding by adult females, and occurrence of immature stages in aquatic habitats.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Psychodidae</span> Family of flies

Psychodidae, also called drain flies, sink flies, filter flies, sewer flies, or sewer gnats, is a family of true flies. Some genera have short, hairy bodies and wings, giving them a "furry" moth-like appearance, hence one of their common names, moth flies. Members of the sub-family Phlebotominae, which are hematophagous, may be called sand flies in some countries, although this term is also used for other unrelated flies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chironomoidea</span> Superfamily of flies

The Chironomoidea are a superfamily within the order Diptera, suborder Nematocera, infraorder Culicomorpha. This superfamily contains the families Chironomidae, Ceratopogonidae, Simuliidae, and Thaumaleidae.

<i>Dasyhelea</i> Genus of insects

Dasyhelea is a genus of biting midges and the only genus of its subfamily, the Dasyheleinae. Larvae of species in this genus are characterized by an anal segment with retractile posterior prolegs. Larvae are aquatic and adults do not feed on vertebrate blood, nor do they prey on other insects. They take nectar only, an unusual feeding behavior within the Ceratopogonidae.

<i>Culicoides</i> Genus of biting midges

Culicoides is a genus of biting midges in the family Ceratopogonidae. There are over 1000 species in the genus, which is divided into many subgenera. Several species are known to be vectors of various diseases and parasites which can affect animals. The genus has a long fossil record, with earliest known fossils being from Burmese amber, around 99 million years old.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Berothidae</span> Family of insects

The Berothidae are a family of winged insects of the order Neuroptera. They are known commonly as the beaded lacewings. The family was first named by Anton Handlirsch in 1906. The family consists of 24 genera and 110 living species distributed discontinuously worldwide, mostly in tropical and subtropical regions. Numerous extinct species have also been described. Their ecology is poorly known, but in the species where larval stages have been documented, the larvae are predators of termites.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Corethrellidae</span> Family of flies

Corethrellidae are a family of biting midges, small flying insects belonging to the order Diptera, females of which feed on the blood of frogs. The members of the family are sometimes known as frog-biting midges. The family currently consists of just one genus, totalling 115 extant and 10 fossil species worldwide. Most extant species are found in the lower latitudes, usually associated around the tropics.

<i>Leptoconops</i> Genus of flies

Leptoconops is a midge genus in the family Ceratopogonidae. It has a mostly tropical or subtropical distribution worldwide, but some species occur as far north as Moscow region in Russia and the Yukon Territory in Canada.

The Scolebythidae are a small family of aculeate wasps in the superfamily Chrysidoidea. These chrysidoid wasps are found in Africa, Australia, the Neotropics, north China, Thailand and Fiji. They are parasites on larvae of Cerambycidae and Ptinidae.

<i>Forcipomyia</i> Genus of flies

Forcipomyia is a genus of biting midges in the subfamily Forcipomyiinae. Species of the subgenus Lasiohelea suck vertebrate blood. Some species are ectoparasites on larger insects. Other species in the genus are important pollinators of the cacao tree. There are at least 1,000 described species in Forcipomyia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New Jersey amber</span>

New Jersey Amber, sometimes called Raritan amber, is amber found in the Raritan and Magothy Formations of the Central Atlantic (Eastern) coast of the United States. It is dated to the Late Cretaceous, Turonian age, based on pollen analysis of the host formations. It has been known since the 19th century, with several of the old clay-pit sites now producing many specimens for study. It has yielded a number of organism fossils, including fungi, plants, tardigrades, insects and feathers. The first identified Cretaceous age ant was described from a fossil found in New Jersey in 1966.

Leptoconops amplificatus is an extinct species of biting midge belonging to the family Ceratopogonidae. This species was described from fossilized remains preserved in Lower Cretaceous amber from Lebanon.

Leptoconops antiquus is an extinct species of biting midges belonging to the family Ceratopogonidae. This species was described from fossilized remains preserved in Lower Cretaceous amber from Lebanon.

Leptoconops burmiticus is an extinct species of biting midges belonging to the family Ceratopogonidae. This species was described from fossilized remains preserved in Burmese amber from the Lower Cretaceous. The amber containing the fossil was mined in the Hukawng Valley, Myanmar.

Leptoconops myanmaricus is an extinct species of biting midges belonging to the family Ceratopogonidae. This species was described from fossilized remains preserved in Burmese amber from the Cenomanian. The amber containing the fossil was mined in the Hukawng Valley, Myanmar.

Leptoconops rossi is an extinct species of biting midges belonging to the family Ceratopogonidae. This species was described from fossilized remains preserved in Burmese amber from the Lower Cretaceous. The amber containing the fossil was mined in the Hukawng Valley, Myanmar.

<i>Bezzia</i> Genus of flies

Bezzia is a genus of biting midges in the family Ceratopogonidae. There are more than 310 described species in Bezzia.

<i>Bezzia nobilis</i> Species of fly

Bezzia nobilis is a species of biting midges in the family Ceratopogonidae. It is widely considered one of the most common Bezzia species; it is found in Eurasian regions, all over the United States, Central America, and even into South American countries like Brazil. B. nobilis seem to prefer aquatic environments; they are commonly observed in stagnant water pools in Eurasia regions and marshes in the southern United States. Adults of this species are easily distinguished by their black and yellow striped legs. Pupae are recognized by their brown bodies, abdominal spines, and respiratory horns. B. nobilis larvae are distinguished by brown heads and white bodies. Little information is known on their life cycle or mating habits. B. nobilis is a predatory species. While some research suggests they mainly feed on larvae of other insect species, experiments suggest they prefer immobile, easy prey such as dead adult flies, bacteria, and protozoa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Winnertziinae</span> Subfamily of flies

Winnertziinae is a subfamily of gall midges and wood midges in the family Cecidomyiidae.

Microphorites is an extinct genus of flies in the family Dolichopodidae.

References

  1. ↑ Borkent, A.; Dominiak, P. (2020). "Catalog of the biting midges of the world (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae)" (PDF). Zootaxa. 4787 (1): 1–377. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.4787.1.1.
  2. ↑ Boorman, John (1993). "Biting midges (Ceratopogonidae)". Medical Insects and Arachnids. Springer. pp. 288–309. doi:10.1007/978-94-011-1554-4_7. ISBN   978-94-010-4679-4.
  3. ↑ Beckenbach, Andrew T.; Borkent, Art (2003-04-01). "Molecular analysis of the biting midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae), based on mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit 2". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 27 (1): 21–35. doi:10.1016/S1055-7903(02)00395-0. ISSN   1055-7903. PMID   12679068.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "common name: biting midges, no-see-ums, scientific name: Culicoides spp. (Insecta: Diptera: Ceratopogonidae)". Featured Creatures. University of Florida. Retrieved 20 September 2018.
  5. ↑ "Af hverju fáum við ofnæmisviðbrögð þegar lúsmý stingur okkur?". Vísindavefurinn (in Icelandic). Retrieved 2024-09-17.
  6. ↑ Dhawan, Rakhi; Mohanty, Ajeet Kumar; Kumar, Manish; Dey, Gourav; Advani, Jayshree; Prasad, T. S. Keshava; Kumar, Ashwani (2017-08-01). "Data from salivary gland proteome analysis of female Aedes aegypti Linn". Data in Brief. 13: 274–277. doi:10.1016/j.dib.2017.05.034. ISSN   2352-3409.
  7. ↑ Hribar, Lawrence J.; Mullen, Gary R. (1991). "Predation by Bezzia larvae (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) on mosquito larvae (Diptera: Culicidae)". Entomological News. 102 (4): 183–186.
  8. ↑ Mogi, Motoyoshi (2007). "Insects and other invertebrate predators". Journal of the American Mosquito Control Association. 23 (2): 93–109. doi:10.2987/8756-971X(2007)23[93:IAOIP]2.0.CO;2.
  9. ↑ Marshall, Stephen (2012). Flies: The Natural History and Diversity of Diptera. Richmond Hill, Ontario: Firefly Books Ltd. p. 85. ISBN   9781770851009.
  10. ↑ Carpenter, Simon; Groschup, Martin H.; Garros, Claire; Felippe-Bauer, Maria Luiza; Purse, Bethan V. (2013). "Culicoides biting midges, arboviruses and public health in Europe". Antiviral Research. 100 (1): 102–113. doi: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2013.07.020 . ISSN   0166-3542. PMID   23933421.
  11. ↑ Linley, J. R. (1985). "Biting midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) as vectors of nonviral animal pathogens". Journal of Medical Entomology. 22 (6): 589–599. doi:10.1093/jmedent/22.6.589. ISSN   0022-2585. PMID   3908679.
  12. ↑ "World Health Organization" (PDF). WHO.int. World Health Organization. Retrieved 1 April 2020.
  13. ↑ Borkent, Art; Craig, Douglas A (23 August 2004). "Austroconops Wirth and Lee, a Lower Cretaceous genus of biting midges yet living in Western Australia: a new species, first description of the immatures and discussion of their biology and phylogeny (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae)". American Museum Novitates (3449): 1–2. doi:10.1206/0003-0082(2004)449<0001:AWALAL>2.0.CO;2. hdl:2246/2814. S2CID   83472814.
  14. ↑ Borkent, Art; Coram, Robert A.; Jarzembowski, Edmund A. (2013-12-01). "The oldest fossil biting midge (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) from the Purbeck Limestone Group (Lower Cretaceous) of southern Great Britain". Polish Journal of Entomology / Polskie Pismo Entomologiczne. 82 (4): 273–279. doi: 10.2478/v10200-012-0041-8 . ISSN   0032-3780.
  15. ↑ Borkent, Art (2019-02-25). "The Phylogenetic Relationships of Cretaceous Biting Midges, with a Key to All Known Genera (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae)". American Museum Novitates (3921): 1–48. doi:10.1206/3921.1. ISSN   0003-0082. S2CID   91737913.
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