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Can anyone suggest an ID for this very pretty Nematoceran (I think...) found In Corsica. A bit cranefly like, but very small and delicate, and with some similarities to Blephariceridae (Net-winged midges) with fine creases in the wings and the wing venation does seem to match some genera eg Apistomyia see http://www.metafysica.nl/nature/nomos_16.html ) , but maybe it's of a more common group!

The downward curving abdomen was often flexed up as the flies fed (there were several around), rather like like an ichneumon egg laying. The proboscis looks forked in some images (I have many more)

4th June 2010, c 6mm, feeding on Umbel flowers by a fast flowing mountain stream, c 400m altitude

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another view

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wing veins and creases

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final image unless more needed!

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Wow - I can't comment on which fly it might be but those are stunning photos - it looks like a tipulid crossed with a bombylid :D

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Thanks Chris. I worked hard to get the shots as the wind was blowing and it was really hard to get a good focus, but yes, these flies are really smart. I just hope someone can help say what they are!

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Should be Apistomyia elegans, the only Apistomyia known from Corsica and reputedly a beautiful midge.

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OK, many thanks Paul. 'elegans' is a perfect name and I too have found records for Corsica of this species, and one looks to have been from higher up the same river based on the map reference. Just to be sure, I've sent a query and the images to a world expert on this group. I can find very few images of Blephariceridae on the internet and none of this species. Some sources say they are a rare group, but they seem to be locally common in fast flowing rivers, so are maybe just rarely collected/photographed! Once ID is 100% confirmed, maybe I should submit some images for your gallery, which has only 3 images fr this group and no thumbnail.

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I really want to find this family also! Congratulations for Your shots! This would be a very fine addition to the gallery!

Walter

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Congratulations!

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Many thanks Walter and Gunnar. I must admit I didn't really know what these were when I photographed them (and hope the ID is 100% confirmed soon), but I knew they were insects I hadn't seen before and pretty one too, so I took a lot of shots, and when you do that, some of them usually turn out well!

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I just got confirmation from Greg Courtney of Iowa State Uni, a world expert on this group, who confirms the genus ID and the likely species ID: Yes, your images are of Apistomyia, and A. elegans is the likely species. He also confirms that adults of this and related genera are flower feeders, using specialised elongated mouthparts. Quick biology summary: females of some Blepharicerid species are predatory, other species have reduced adult mouthparts. The larvae are highly specialised for feeding in high current mountain streams, with six ventral hydraulic suctorial discs. They are only found in clean, cool, well oxygenated streams and could be useful indicators of water quality. An interesing group! see http://www.ent.ia...ology.html