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I have no clue to which family this fly (2.2 mm) belongs. Very strange venation.
I found this specimen on a wall in Minas de Riotinto, Huelva.

Any idea?

Thanks! |t

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Ceratopogonidae

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Thanks, Tony! I have seen many Ceratopogonidae, but never like this one. |t

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The short, oblong radial cells are a good indicator for Ceratopogonidae.

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Perfectly explained, Tony! :)

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Ceratopogonini, likely Ceratopogon.

Wing veins also match Culicoides which has more hairs on the wing and shorter claws.

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Well, a new genus for me (or tribe). :)

Thanks, John! |t

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I found some information about this genus.

Iberfauna only names one species for Spain, Ceratopogon niveipennis.
http://iberfauna.mncn.csic.es/showficha.aspx?rank=T&idtax=63066

As I have no idea whether this is correct I read "Beitrag zur Kenntniss der Gattung Ceratopogon Meigen" by J. Winnertz.
The description of its syn, C. candidatus and drawing of the wing fit my specimen.

Is it possible to identify these species by photo?


¡Saludos!
André

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Four species are known from western Europe. Quoting Art Borkent: "They are generally early spring, alpine or arctic species and the genus is strictly Holarctic. Many females are difficult to identify even after slide mounting but the males, with very large genitalia, have good characters."

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Well, that is clear!

Thanks, John! |t

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Andre, if you can check on original image if you can see an internal tooth on the tarsal claws then, please, do so. From this image it seems to be absent (although that may be because of orientation of the visible claws), but the tooth should be present in niveipennis.

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Hi, Paul! |t

I don't see any tooth on its claws. I will upload a cropped photo.


Thanks!!
André

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Then it should be another species ;)

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No problemo, Paul! ;)

Bedankt weer! |t