The Phantom Midges (Diptera: Chaoboridae) of South Africa

compiled by Arthur Harrison

111A Berg Road, Fish Hoek, South Africa

© Copyright of this page belongs to the author.
Yours is the access since 1 January 2000

CONTENTS

Introduction

Chaoboridae

References

INTRODUCTION

Phantom midges are mosquito-like, but have no scales on the wing surface, and the proboscis is short. The aquatic larvae are predaceous and characteristically shaped, with air bubbles in the thorax and posterior abdomen. The phantom midges of South Africa were until classified into two genera. However, the family has been divided into two: the Chaoboridae, all non-biting flies, and the Corethrellidae, flies biting frogs and possibly other invertebrates.

Information about aquatic flies and their biology can be obtained from

The Diptera Page of The Tree of Life

Family: CHAOBORIDAE

1. Genus: CHAOBORUS Lichtenstein 1800: 174.

   Subgenus: Neochaoborus Edwards

   1. [C. anomalus Edwards

      Chaoborus anomalus Edwards
      Uganda, Kenya (This species could be discovered in southern Africa with more collecting)]

      
      

      Subgenus: Sayomyia Coquillett 1903

   2. C. ceratopogones Theobald

      Chaoborus ceratopogones Theobald
      Widespread in southern Africa and most of the Afrotropical Region and Madagascar

      
      
   3. C. fryeri Verbeke

      Chaoborus fryeri Verbeke
      Zambia

      
      
   4. C. microstictus

      Chaoborus microstictus Edwards 1930: 538
      Northwest Province, Northern Cape (Vaal River at Douglas and Barkley West), widespread in southern Africa.

      
      

REFERENCES

Freeman, P. 1962a.

Diptera Nematocera from Gough Island, South Atlantic. Proceedings of the Royal Entomological Society of London 31: 77-80.

Freeman, P. 1962b.

Notes on Chaoboridae (Diptera: Nematocera), with descriptions of a new genus and two new species from Australia and Africa. Proceedings of the Royal Entomological Society of London B: 41-43.

Hutson, A.M. 1980.

Family Chaoboridae. pp 112-113 in R.W. Crosskey (ed.), Catalogue of the Diptera of the Afrotropical region. British Museum of Natural History, London.

Verbeke, J. 1958.

Chaoboridae (Diptera Nematocera). Exploration du Parc National Albert. Mission G.F. de Witte 94: 1-57.