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Diptera.info :: Miscellaneous :: General queries
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Smallest fly in the world?
crex
#1 Print Post
Posted on 20-09-2006 12:17
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How small is the worlds tiniest diptera (in mm)?
 
Robert Nash
#2 Print Post
Posted on 20-09-2006 15:33
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Suggest Cecidomyiidae http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cecidomyiidae
many less than 1mm. long. World's smallest insects are in Hymenoptera See
http://ufbir.ifas.ufl.edu/chap38.htm>Home page for other interesting insect records GrinRobert
 
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Paul Beuk
#3 Print Post
Posted on 20-09-2006 16:13
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I am sure there are at least some Ceratopogonidae and Phoridae, too, that have similarly small species.
Paul

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Robert Nash
#4 Print Post
Posted on 20-09-2006 17:13
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So it seems Phoridae especially at (0.5mm) For a fascinating article on one effect of size on tiny insects read Life at Low Reynolds Number http://brodylab.eng.uci.edu/~jpbrody/reynolds/lowpurcell.htmlPfft

Robert
 
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Paul Beuk
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Posted on 20-09-2006 17:48
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I forgot Psychodidae. And even Agromyzidae have very small species but probably not as small as the other families.
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crex
#6 Print Post
Posted on 20-09-2006 21:21
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Thanx for the link tips and suggestions. The people at Guinness World Records apparently has a bit of work left to do finding the tiniest fly Cool
 
Robert Nash
#7 Print Post
Posted on 21-09-2006 08:53
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And we both forgot Sphaeroceridae. Many species less than 1mm. and we must remember also poorly fed larvae become dwarf adults.
Robert
Edited by Robert Nash on 21-09-2006 08:54
 
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crex
#8 Print Post
Posted on 01-01-2007 20:05
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I read there are an american expedition going to Antarctica study the chironomid Belgica antarctica which they think are interesting because it can stand cold weather. Perhaps this is the most cold restistant diptera!? Which diptera can stand most heat then? I guess there can be some species where larva live in hot springs or something like that, otherwise I guess it's hard to tell which place is hotter than the other ...
 
rvanderweele
#9 Print Post
Posted on 01-01-2007 22:26
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Rather cute: Empidideicus hungaricus Thalhammer, 1911. This is a 0.7-1 mm large or small Bombyliidae. Not the smallest, nevertheless......

ruud van der weele
rvanderweele@gmail.com
 
bbrown
#10 Print Post
Posted on 05-11-2011 22:28
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I wondered about this, too. I have a phorid of 0.4mm that I will describe as the world's smallest fly. Anyone disagree?
Brian Brown
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NH Museum of Los Angeles Co.
 
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Nosferatumyia
#11 Print Post
Posted on 05-11-2011 23:54
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Ask Wayne Mathis and Chris Borkent. There are some really tiny ephydrids and gnats.
Val
 
bbrown
#12 Print Post
Posted on 06-11-2011 00:17
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Wayne lists the smallest ephydrids and nannodastiids at 0.7 mm, almost twice the size of my fly. Nevertheless, I'll ask. Thanks for the advice, Val.

Brian
Brian Brown
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John Carr
#13 Print Post
Posted on 12-11-2011 02:08
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According to the revision by Wirth and Grogan, the smallest Ceratopogonini have wing length 0.4 mm.
http://books.goog...mp;lpg=PA1
 
http://www.flickr.com/photos/31715949@N00
atylotus
#14 Print Post
Posted on 03-01-2012 17:05
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To Crex:
world famous I think is the chironomid Polypedilum vanderplanki whose larva is able to resist a temperature from -270 C to +102 C (although this will not occur anywhere in nature, I hope Shock
see for instance: http://www.nature...336a0.html
Edited by atylotus on 03-01-2012 17:06
 
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23.06.25 18:10
If you have some spare money, there is a copy (together with keys to pupae and larvae) for sale by Hermann L. Strack, Loguivy Plougras, France

23.06.25 11:18
Appreciate it, Tony Irwin! I got the hint to use the key next to Langton and Pinder key for females of Chironomidae. So no specific queries, except the keys... I will keep this on my list and hope th

19.06.25 15:33
I have the hard copy book, if you have any specific queries, but I'm not scanning the 500+ pages!

02.06.25 18:26
Anyone has "Chironomidae of the Holarctic region. Keys and diagnoses. Part 3. Adult Males Entomologica Scandinavica Supplement 34"? smolwaarneming@gma
il.com

28.05.25 20:57
I have Russian Coenosia. nikita6510@ya.ru

28.05.25 12:25
Is someone able to share with me "A key to the Russian species of the genus Coenosia"?

08.05.25 18:22
I have

03.05.25 08:35
Does someone has a scan of Nartshuk E.P. 2003. Key to families of Diptera (Insecta) of the fauna of Russian and adjacent countries. Proceedings of the Zoological Institute Vol. 294: 1-252 for me?

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