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Found this little diptera, about 3-5mm near some Trichoceridae, but I never seen antennae like that, seem to be a paintbrush :)

Someone could help me to identificate it please?

21.11.2012 - Northeast Italy (Padua)





Thanks for the help!

Marcello

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Chironomidae

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Orthocladiinae. I think I see hairy wings and dorsal eye extensions. Only a few genera have that combination.

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Thanks John, in Italy I have all this genus in the Orthocladiinae subfamily, so it's almost impossible to identificate...

Acricotopus Kieffer, 1921

Acricotopus lucens (Zetterstedt, 1850) (N, S)

Brillia Kieffer, 1913

Brillia longifurca Kieffer, 1921 (N, S)
Brillia modesta (Meigen, 1830) (N, S)

Bryophaenocladius Thienemann, 1934

Bryophaenocladius aestivus (Brundin, 1947) (N)
Bryophaenocladius illimbatus (Edwards, 1929) (N, S)
Bryophaenocladius inconstans (Brundin, 1947) (N)
Bryophaenocladius scanicus (Brundin, 1947) (N)
Bryophaenocladius subvernalis (Edwards, 1929) (N)
Bryophaenocladius tuberculatus (Edwards, 1929) (N)
Bryophaenocladius vernalis (Goetghebuer, 1921) (N)

Camptocladius van der Wulp, 1874

Camptocladius stercorarius (De Geer, 1776) (N, S)

Cardiocladius Kieffer, 1912

Cardiocladius capucinus (Zetterstedt, 1850) (N, S, Sa)
Cardiocladius fuscus Kieffer, 1924 (N, S, Sa)

Chaetocladius Kieffer, 1911

Chaetocladius dissipatus (Edwards, 1929) (N)
Chaetocladius gelidus Brundin, 1956 (N)
Chaetocladius laminatus Brundin, 1947 (N, S)
Chaetocladius perennis (Meigen, 1830) (N)
Chaetocladius suecicus (Kieffer, 1916) (N)

Corynoneura Winnertz, 1846

Corynoneura coronata (Edwards, 1924) (N)
Corynoneura edwardsi Brundin, 1949 (N)
Corynoneura fittkaui Schlee, 1968 (N, S)
Corynoneura lacustris Edwards, 1924 (N)
Corynoneura lobata Edwards, 1924 (N, S)
Corynoneura scutellata Winnertz, 1846 (N)

Cricotopus (Cricotopus) van der Wulp, 1874

Cricotopus (Cricotopus) annulator Goetghebuer, 1927 (N, S)
Cricotopus (Cricotopus) bicinctus (Meigen, 1818) (N, S)
Cricotopus (Cricotopus) cilindraceus (Kieffer, 1908) (N)
Cricotopus (Cricotopus) curtus Hirvenoja, 1973 (N, S)
Cricotopus (Cricotopus) festivellus (Kieffer, 1906) (N)
Cricotopus (Cricotopus) fuscus (Kieffer, 1909) (N)
Cricotopus (Cricotopus) patens Hirvenoja, 1973 (N)
Cricotopus (Cricotopus) pulchripes Verrall, 1912 (N, S)
Cricotopus (Cricotopus) tibialis (Meigen, 1804) (N, S)
Cricotopus (Cricotopus) tremulus (Linnaeus, 1756) (N)
Cricotopus (Cricotopus) triannulatus (Macquart, 1826) (N, S)
Cricotopus (Cricotopus) trifascia Edwards, 1929 (N, S)
Cricotopus (Cricotopus) vierriensis Goetghebuer, 1935 (N)

Cricotopus (Isocladius) Kieffer, 1909

Cricotopus (Isocladius) glacialis Edwards, 1922 (N)
Cricotopus (Isocladius) intersectus (Staeger, 1839) (N, S)
Cricotopus (Isocladius) laricomalis Edwards, 1932 (N, S)
Cricotopus (Isocladius) ornatus (Meigen, 1818) (N, S)
Cricotopus (Isocladius) sylvestris (Fabricius, 1794) (N, S, Si, Sa)
Cricotopus (Isocladius) tricinctus (Meigen, 1818) (N)
Cricotopus (Isocladius) trifasciatus (Meigen, 1813) (N, S)

Diplocladius Kieffer, 1908

Diplocladius cultriger Kieffer, 1908 (N, S)

Epoicocladius Sulc & Zavrel, 1924

Epoicocladius ephemerae (Kieffer, 1924) (N)

Eukiefferiella Thienemann, 1926

Eukiefferiella brehmi Gouin, 1943 (N)
Eukiefferiella brevicalcar (Kieffer, 1911) (N, S, Sa)
Eukiefferiella claripennis Lundbeck, 1898 (N, S, Si)
Eukiefferiella clypeata (Kieffer, 1923) (N, S)
Eukiefferiella coerulescens (Kieffer, 1926) (N, S)
Eukiefferiella cyanea Thienemann, 1936 (N, S)
Eukiefferiella devonica (Edwards, 1929) (N, S)
Eukiefferiella dittmari Lehmann, 1972 (N)
Eukiefferiella fittkaui Lehmann, 1972 (N, S)
Eukiefferiella fuldensis Lehmann, 1972 (N, S)
Eukiefferiella gracei (Edwards, 1929) (N)
Eukiefferiella ilkleyensis (Edwards, 1929) (N, S)
Eukiefferiella lobifera Goetghebuer, 1934 (N, S)
Eukiefferiella minor (Edwards, 1929) (N, S)
Eukiefferiella pseudomontana Goetghebuer, 1935 (N, S)
Eukiefferiella tirolensis Goetghebuer, 1938 (N)

Euryhapsis Oliver, 1981

Euryhapsis subviridis (Siebert, 1979) (N)

Georthocladius Strenzke, 1941

Georthocladius sp. (N)

Gymnometriocnemus Goetghebuer, 1932

Gymnometriocnemus subnudus (Edwards, 1929) (N)
Gymnometriocnemus volitans (Goetghebuer, 1940) (N)

Halocladius (Halocladius) Hirvenoja, 1973

Halocladius (Halocladius) millenarius (Santos Abreu, 1918) (N, S)
Halocladius (Halocladius) varians (Staeger, 1839) (N)

Heleniella Gouin, 1943

Heleniella dorieri Serra-Tosio, 1967 (N)
Heleniella ornaticollis (Edwards, 1929) (N)
Heleniella serratosioi Ringe, 1976 (N)

Heterotanytarsus Spärk, 1923

Heterotanytarsus apicalis (Kieffer, 1921) (N)

Heterotrissocladius Spärk, 1923

Heterotrissocladius grimshawi (Edwards, 1929) (N)
Heterotrissocladius marcidus (Walker, 1856) (N, S)

Hydrobaenus Fries, 1830

Hydrobaenus distylus (Kieffer, 1915) (N, S)

Krenosmittia Thienemann & Krüger, 1939

Krenosmittia boreoalpina (Goetghebuer, 1944) (N)
Krenosmittia camptophleps (Edwards, 1929) (N, S)
Krenosmittia hispanica Wülker, 1957 (N)

Limnophyes Eaton, 1875

Limnophyes bidumus Sæther, 1985 (N)
Limnophyes italicus Marcuzzi, 1949 (N)
Limnophyes minimus (Meigen, 1818) (N)
Limnophyes natalensis Kieffer, 1914 (N)
Limnophyes spinigus Sæther, 1985 (N)

Mesosmittia Brundin, 1956

Mesosmittia flexuella (Edwards, 1929) (N, S)

Metriocnemus van der Wulp, 1874

Metriocnemus fuscipes (Meigen, 1818) (N, S)
Metriocnemus hirticollis (Staeger, 1839) (N)
Metriocnemus hygropetricus Kieffer, 1912 (N, S)

Nanocladius Kieffer, 1913

Nanocladius balticus Palmén, 1959 (N)
Nanocladius bicolor (Zetterstedt, 1838) (N, S)
Nanocladius rectinervis (Kieffer, 1911) (N)

Orthocladius (Eudactylocladius) Thienemann, 1935

Orthocladius (Eudactylocladius) fuscimanus Kieffer, 1908 (N, S)
Orthocladius (Eudactylocladius) gelidus Kieffer, 1922 (N)
Orthocladius (Eudactylocladius) mixtus (Holmgren, 1869) (N)
Orthocladius (Eudactylocladius) olivaceus (Kieffer, 1911) (N)

Orthocladius (Euorthocladius) Thienemann, 1935

Orthocladius (Euorthocladius) ashei Soponis, 1990 (N)
Orthocladius (Euorthocladius) luteipes Goetghebuer, 1938 (N)
Orthocladius (Euorthocladius) rivicola Kieffer, 1921 (N, S)
Orthocladius (Euorthocladius) rivulorum Kieffer, 1909 (N, S)
Orthocladius (Euorthocladius) saxosus (Tokunaga, 1939) (N, S)
Orthocladius (Euorthocladius) thienemanni Kieffer, 1906 (N, S)

Orthocladius (Orthocladius) van der Wulp, 1874

Orthocladius (Orthocladius) frigidus (Zetterstedt, 1838) (N, S)
Orthocladius (Orthocladius) marchettii Rossaro & Prato, 1991 (N, S)
Orthocladius (Orthocladius) oblidens (Walker, 1856) (N)
Orthocladius (Orthocladius) obumbratus Johannsen, 1905 (N, S, Si, Sa)
Orthocladius (Orthocladius) pedestris Kieffer, 1909 (N)
Orthocladius (Orthocladius) pinderi Rossaro & Prato, 1991 (N, S)
Orthocladius (Orthocladius) rubicundus (Meigen, 1818) (N, S)
Orthocladius (Orthocladius) ruffoi Rossaro & Prato, 1991 (N, S)
Orthocladius (Orthocladius) ticinoi Rossaro & Prato, 1991 (N)
Orthocladius (Orthocladius) wetterensis Brundin, 1956 (N)

Parachaetocladius Wülker, 1959

Parachaetocladius abnobaeus (Wülker, 1959) (N)

Paracladius Hirvenoja, 1973

Paracladius alpicola (Zetterstedt, 1850) (N)
Paracladius conversus (Walker, 1856) (N, S)

Paracricotopus Thienemann & Harnisch, 1932

Paracricotopus niger (Kieffer, 1913) (N)

Parakiefferiella Thienemann, 1936

Parakiefferiella gracillima (Kieffer, 1924) (N)
Parakiefferiella bathophila (Kieffer, 1912) (N)
Parakiefferiella coronata (Edwards, 1929) (N)

Parametriocnemus Goetghebuer, 1932

Parametriocnemus boreoalpina Gouin, 1942 (N)
Parametriocnemus stylatus (Kieffer, 1924) (N, S)

Paraphaenocladius Thienemann, 1924

Paraphaenocladius impensus (Walker, 1856) (N, S)

Parasmittia Strenzke, 1950

Parasmittia carinata Strenzke, 1950 (N)

Paratrichocladius Santos-Abreu, 1918

Paratrichocladius gayi Serra-Tosio, 1983 (N)
Paratrichocladius guidalii Rossaro, 1990 (N)
Paratrichocladius nivalis Goetghebuer, 1938 (N)
Paratrichocladius osellai Rossaro, 1990 (N)
Paratrichocladius pierfrancescoi Rossaro, 1990 (S)
Paratrichocladius rufiventris (Meigen, 1830) (N, S)
Paratrichocladius skirwithensis (Edwards, 1929) (N, S)

Paratrissocladius Zavrel, 1937

Paratrissocladius excerptus (Walker, 1856) (N, S)

Parorthocladius Thienemann, 1935

Parorthocladius nudipennis (Kieffer, 1908) (N)

Psectrocladius (Allopsectrocladius) Wülker, 1956

Psectrocladius (Allopsectrocladius) obvius (Walker, 1856) (N, S)

Psectrocladius (Monopsectrocladius) Wülker, 1956

Psectrocladius (Monopsectrocladius) sp. (N, S)

Psectrocladius (Psectrocladius) Kieffer, 1906

Psectrocladius (Psectrocladius) brehmi Kieffer, 1923 (N, S)
Psectrocladius (Psectrocladius) fennicus Storå, 1939 (N)
Psectrocladius (Psectrocladius) limbatellus (Holmgren, 1869) (N, Si)
Psectrocladius (Psectrocladius) octomaculatus Wülker, 1956 (N)
Psectrocladius (Psectrocladius) psilopterus (Kieffer, 1906) (N, Si)
Psectrocladius (Psectrocladius) sordidellus (Zetterstedt, 1838) (N, S)
Psectrocladius (Psectrocladius) schlienzi Wülker, 1956 (N, S)

Pseudorthocladius Goetghebuer, 1932

Pseudorthocladius curtistylus (Goetghebuer, 1921) (N)

Pseudosmittia Goetghebuer, 1932

Pseudosmittia angusta (Edwards, 1929) (N)
Pseudosmittia danconai (Marcuzzi, 1947) (N)
Pseudosmittia gracilis (Goetghebuer, 1913) (N, S)
Pseudosmittia holsata Thienemann & Strenzke, 1940 (N)
Pseudosmittia mathildae Albu, 1968 (N)
Pseudosmittia recta (Edwards, 1929) (N)
Pseudosmittia subtrilobata (Freeman, 1956) (N, S)
Pseudosmittia trilobata (Edwards, 1929) (N, S)

Rheocricotopus Thienemann & Harnisch, 1932

Rheocricotopus atripes (Kieffer, 1913) (N, S)
Rheocricotopus chalybeatus (Edwards, 1929) (N, S)
Rheocricotopus effusus (Walker, 1856) (N)
Rheocricotopus fuscipes Kieffer, 1909 (N, S, Si, Sa)
Rheocricotopus glabricollis (Meigen, 1830) (N)

Rheosmittia Brundin, 1956

Rheosmittia spinicornis Brundin, 1956 (N)

Smittia Holmgren, 1869

Smittia amoena Caspers, 1988 (N)
Smittia aterrima (Meigen, 1819) (N, S)
Smittia edwardsi Goetghebuer, 1932 (N)
Smittia foliacea (Kieffer, 1921) (N)
Smittia nudipennis Goetghebuer, 1913 (N)
Smittia pratorum Goetghebuer, 1927 (N, S)
Smittia scutellosetosa Caspers, 1988 (N)

Stilocladius Rossaro, 1979

Stilocladius montanus Rossaro, 1979 (N)

Synorthocladius Thienemann, 1935

Synorthocladius semivirens Kieffer, 1909 (N, S, Si, Sa)

Thienemannia Kieffer, 1909

Thienemannia gracilis Kieffer, 1909 (N, S)

Thienemanniella Kieffer, 1911

Thienemanniella clavicornis (Kieffer, 1911) (N, S)
Thienemanniella obscura Brundin, 1947 (N)
Thienemanniella partita Schlee, 1968 (N)

Tokunagaia Sæther, 1973

Tokunagaia rectangularis (Goetghebuer, 1940) (N)
Tokunagaia tonollii Rossaro, 1983 (N)

Tvetenia Kieffer, 1922

Tvetenia bavarica (Goetghebuer, 1934) (N, S, Sa)
Tvetenia calvescens (Edwards, 1929) (N, S, Sa)
Tvetenia discoloripes Goetghebuer, 1936 (N, S)
Tvetenia verralli (Edwards, 1929) (N, S, Sa)

Zalutschia Lipina, 1939

Zalutschia tatrica (Pagast, 1935) (N)

Thanks anyway,
Marcello

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Excluding obviously inapplicable genera, the first few couplets of the key to Orthocladiinae ask

Eyes hairy or bare? I looked at the larger pictures on Flickr and thought I saw hairs, but that branch of the key fails.

Wing hairy or bare? Looks quite hairy to me.

Now there are about 15 genera left.

Eye with no dorsal extension, wedge-shaped, or parallel sided? Looks wedge shaped in the larger size. So about 10 genera.

The photos aren't clear enough to show details like anal point present vs. absent. (The anal point is a fine extension of the tip of the last tergite.) The freshly emerged male has antenna hairs laid flat, obscuring the presence or absence of an apical seta on the antennae.

So some Orthocladiinae. It may be distinctive to an Italian expert.

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Hi John,

very thanks for the informations and all the time you spent to help me!
I didn't knew some things, for example the "fresh emerged male" and the keys for the identification.
Unfortunately, in Italy (at least all the people/site I know) we don't have so expert people, I mean around the web, maybe I'll send the subject to some lab out of Italy for the ID.

In the mean time, can you please tell me some books with the keys for Diptera?

Thanks for all!
Marcello

PS: I'll post the adult of the same subject (I think) :)

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The standard reference to genera, which assumes you are armed with microscope slides, is

Wiederholm, T. 1989. Chironomidae of the Holarctic region. Keys and diagnoses. Part 3. Adult males. Entomologica Scandinavica Supplement 34.

You will also want an older guide to European midges including species descriptions. Modern works omit useful differences in color that help identify Chironominae. For example, the female of the North American Axarus has a distinctive black stripe (or three) on the thorax. A banded abdomen of a certain color shade combined with legs darkened at the knees suggests Chironomus (though some are entirely black or green). Etc.

Most Orthcladiinae are anonymous and you must use structural features from the beginning.

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I'm searching for this book, I hope to learn somethings more ;)

Thanks again

Marcello