Atherix marginata

Atherix marginata, the black-legged water-snipefly, is a species of ibis flies belonging to the family Athericidae, a small family very similar to the Rhagionidae (snipe flies).[2][3]

Atherix marginata
Atherix marginata. Male
Female
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Diptera
Family: Athericidae
Subfamily: Athericinae
Genus: Atherix
Species:
A. marginata
Binomial name
Atherix marginata
(Fabricius, 1781)[1]
Synonyms

Distribution

This species is present in most of Europe (Albania, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, British Islands, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Spain, Switzerland and The Netherlands).[4]

Description

The body is quite slender, eyes are rounded and well separated, antennae are trisegmented, costae are extended around the whole wings, and the abdomen has several dark and clear stripes. The legs are entirely black (hence the common name).

Biology

Adults can be found from May to Augusty. Adult females gather in large clumps and lay egg masses on tree branches or under bridges over flowing waters. In such a way, the first-stage larvae will fall into the water, where they start their lives. The larvae are aquatic and saprophagous. They show 6-8 abdominal segments.[5]

Habitat

These ibis flies are usually found alongside shallow rivers and streams, especially in hilly areas., where the larvae develop as predators.[6]

References
  1. Fabricius, J.C. (1781). Species insectorum. Vol. 2. Hamburgi et Kilonii [= Hamburg and Kiel]: C. E. Bohnii. p. 494.
  2. L. Watson and M.J. Dallwitz Insects of Britain and Ireland: the families of Diptera
  3. Stubbs, Alan E.; Drake, Martin (2001). British Soldierflies and their allies: A Field Guide to the Larger British Brachycera (Print). London: British Entomological and Natural History Society. pp. 528 pages. ISBN 1-899935-04-5.
  4. Fauna Europaea
  5. A. Sundermann, S. Lohse, L.A. Beck, P. Haase Key to the larval stages of aquatic true flies (Diptera), based on the operational taxa list for running waters in Germany
  6. Steven Falk Ibisia marginata

Further reading
  • Stubbs, A. and Drake, M - British Soldierflies and Their Allies: A Field Guide to the Larger British Brachycera, pp. 512 - British Entomological and Natural History Society
  • A. Minelli – La fauna in Italia – Touring Editore
  • Di Paul S. Giller, Björn Malmqvist - The biology of streams and rivers – Oxford University Press
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