Moss mosquitoes
| Moss mosquitoes | ||||||||||||
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Cylindrotoma distinctissima, male |
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| Systematics | ||||||||||||
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Cylindrotomidae | ||||||||||||
| Schiner , 1863 | ||||||||||||
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The moss mosquitoes ( Cylindrotomidae) are a family of the two-winged (Diptera) and belong to the mosquitoes (Nematocera). Around 50 species of this group of animals live worldwide, of which only four are known from Germany. They are medium-sized mosquitoes.
The body structure of the mosquito corresponds to that of the small gnat (Tipulidae), the wings lie on top of each other at rest on the back. The mosquitoes like to fly near the water in the evening. They are not bloodsuckers, but lick plant juices up like a gnat.
The eggs are usually laid individually on the ground or on plants. Phalacrocera sticks them into the leaf axils of moss plants that protrude from the water. Cylindrotoma pushes the eggs into plant tissue with saw-shaped abdominal appendages.
The larvae of most species have leaf- or thread-shaped appendages, which are used safely for skin respiration. The head is retractable. They feed on land and water mosses, which they resemble extraordinarily in terms of shape and color, especially due to the appendages. Phalacrocera is found mainly on Fontinalis species. They are often wound around a twig of moss and are therefore even less recognizable and protected against being washed off. The larvae of some species live on fallen leaves on the ground. Breathing occurs through the skin or through the two rear, open tracheal openings . Pupation takes place at the larva’s feeding place, the Phalacrocera pupa lies horizontally on the surface of the spring moss lawn, anchored in front with the two respiratory horns, at the back with three pairs of appendages , the Cylindrotoma pupa is suspended at the rear end. Phalacrocera overwinters as a larva under water on Fontinalis .
literature
- K. Honomichl, H. Bellmann: Biology and ecology of the insects . CD-Rom, Gustav Fischer Verlag, Stuttgart 1994.
- C. Wesenberg-Lund : Biology of freshwater insects . Berlin 1943.
