Diptera.info :: Identification queries :: Diptera (adults)
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 Green midge, red eyes
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| Stephen |
Posted on 03-09-2007 12:53
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 Member Location: West Virginia USA Posts: 1322 Joined: 12.04.05 |
I don't recall seeing a midge with red eyes before. I notice lots of green midges are in the genus Tanytarsus, though I usually get burned when I try to make IDs based on color. ID help appreciated. Date: 3 June 2007. Location: Island in the Ohio River, West Virginia USA. Stephen attached the following image:  [82.17Kb] --Stephen Stephen Cresswell www.americaninsects.net |
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| Tony Irwin |
Posted on 03-09-2007 17:41
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 Member Location: Norwich, England Posts: 7327 Joined: 19.11.04 |
Sorry, Stephen - wrong order. This is a leafhopper (Homoptera, Cicadellidae). However, it does appear to be mimicking a chironomid, though why anything should want to do that is a mystery - chironomids don't sting and they taste good! Perhaps it's trying to fool the local pipunculids into leaving it alone!  It's a very wierd insect. You may get an answer posting it on bug guide, otherwise I may be able to get the name of an American cicadellid expert. Tony ---------- Tony Irwin |
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| jorgemotalmeida |
Posted on 03-09-2007 17:44
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 Member Location: Viseu - PORTUGAL Posts: 9296 Joined: 05.06.06 |
this is surely one of the best mimics I've ever seen since that Ceriana fooled me!  It is extremely similar to Stenochironomus - the body..  |
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| jorgemotalmeida |
Posted on 03-09-2007 17:46
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Member Location: Viseu - PORTUGAL Posts: 9296 Joined: 05.06.06 |
Tony Irwin wrote: [...]However, it does appear to be mimicking a chironomid, though why anything should want to do that is a mystery - chironomids don't sting and they taste good![...] Tony... did you eat chironomids?   Your words: "they taste good!" |
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| Jan Willem |
Posted on 03-09-2007 21:15
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 Member Location: Waalwijk, The Netherlands Posts: 2161 Joined: 24.07.04 |
Well if this really is a cicadellid (of which I'm not at all convinced yet) it surely is a very good mimic. Even the legs (totally uncicadellid like!!) are similar. Which genus of Cicadellidae might this be Tony? Jan Willem |
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| Tony Irwin |
Posted on 03-09-2007 22:20
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Member Location: Norwich, England Posts: 7327 Joined: 19.11.04 |
Doh! Trish keeps telling me I need a holiday and this is proof!  Apologies to all the puzzled people who wonder if I'm going mad. I am. Stephen is correct - it's a chironomid. Eating all those midges has done something to my judgement. I'd best keep my mouth shut for a while! 
Tony ---------- Tony Irwin |
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| jorgemotalmeida |
Posted on 03-09-2007 22:44
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Member Location: Viseu - PORTUGAL Posts: 9296 Joined: 05.06.06 |
with a lateral view shot this post never appeared! eheh I think you forgot to put some pepper and salt on chironomids. |
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| Stephen |
Posted on 04-09-2007 00:03
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Member Location: West Virginia USA Posts: 1322 Joined: 12.04.05 |
That snout does look very Cicadellid-like!
--Stephen Stephen Cresswell www.americaninsects.net |
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