Thaumaleidae, or solitary midges, are a group of nematoceran flies related to the Ceratopogonidae, Chironomidae, and the Simuliidae. They are small flies (3-4mm) and there are very few species known for this family. Larvae are found in films on rocks and non- feeding adults are usually found on foliage along the same streams in which the larvae are found. A few solitary midges are found in the southern hemisphere, but Thaumaleidae is generally an Holarctic family. Scientific classification or biological classification is how biologists group and categorize extinct and living species of organisms. ... Phyla Porifera (sponges) Ctenophora (comb jellies) Cnidaria (coral, jellyfish, anemones) Placozoa (trichoplax) Subregnum Bilateria (bilateral symmetry) Acoelomorpha (basal) Orthonectida (parasitic to flatworms, echinoderms, etc. ... Subphyla and Classes Subphylum Trilobitomorpha Trilobita - trilobites (extinct) Subphylum Chelicerata Arachnida - spiders, scorpions, etc. ... Classes & Orders Subclass:Apterygota Orders Archaeognatha (Bristletails) Thysanura (Silverfish) Monura - extinct Subclass:Pterygota Infraclass: Paleoptera (paraphyletic) Orders Ephemeroptera (mayflies) Palaeodictyoptera - extinct Megasecoptera - extinct Archodonata - extinct Diaphanopterodea - extinct Protodonata - extinct Odonata (dragonflies and damselflies) Infraclass: Neoptera Superorder: Exopterygota Orders Caloneroptera - extinct Titanoptera - extinct Protorthoptera - extinct Grylloblattodea (ice-crawlers) Mantophasmatodea (gladiators) Plecoptera... Suborders Nematocera(Eudiptera) Brachycera Green Bottle Fly Flesh Fly Fannia a Lesser House Fly (unidentified species) Dolichopodidae (unidentified species) Diptera (di - two, ptera – wings), or true flies, is the order of insects in which the hind wings are reduced to halteres. ... Nematocera are generally primitive flies, all with filamentous antennae which may be plumose in some males. ... Superfamilies Culicoidea Chironomoidea See text for families. ... Chironomoidea is a superfamily within the order Diptera, suborder Nematocera, infraorder Culicomorpha. ... Nematocera are generally primitive flies, all with filamentous antennae which may be plumose in some males. ... Suborders Nematocera(Eudiptera) Brachycera Green Bottle Fly Flesh Fly Fannia a Lesser House Fly (unidentified species) Dolichopodidae (unidentified species) Diptera (di - two, ptera – wings), or true flies, is the order of insects in which the hind wings are reduced to halteres. ... Ceratopogonidae, or biting midges, are a family of small (1-4mm long) Nematocera within the order Diptera of Insects. ... Chironomidae are a family of Nematoceran Diptera closely related to the Ceratopogonidae, Simuliidae, and Thaumaleidae. ... Genera Many, including Simulium Prosimulium A Black Fly (sometimes called a Buffalo Gnat or Turkey Gnat) is any member of the family Simuliidae of the Culicomorpha infraorder. ... A larva (Latin; plural larvae) is a juvenile form of animal with indirect development, undergoing metamorphosis (for example, insects or amphibians). ... The Holarctic is a term used by zoologists to define the ecozone covering much of Eurasia and North America, which have often been connected by the Bering land bridge. ...

References

• Arnaud, P.H. and I.A. Boussy. 1994. The adult Thaumaleidae (Diptera: Culicomorpha) of western America. Myia 5: 41-152.
• Boussy, I.A., J.M. Gillespie, and P.H. Arnaud, Jr. 1994. External structure of larval Thaumalea buckae Arnaud and Boussy (Diptera: Thaumaleidae). Myia 5: 195-201.
• Gillespie, J.M., W.F. Barr, and S.T. Elliott. 1994. The taxonomy and biology of the immature stages of species of Thaumalea occurring in Idaho and California (Diptera: Thaumaleidae). Myia 5: 153-193.
• Sinclair, B.J. 1996. A review of the Thaumaleidae (Diptera: Culicomorpha) of eastern North America, including a redefinition of genus Androprosopa Mik. Entomologica Scandinavica 27: 361-376.
• Sinclair, B.J. 2000. Immature stages of Australian Austrothaumalea Tonnoir and Niphta Theischinger (Diptera: Thaumaleidae). Australian Journal of Entomology 39: 171-176.

External links

• Family keys and image