Diagnosis. Diverse family of small to large (4.0-15.0 mm) fungus gnats. Body slender and fragile to plump. Head small; mouthparts occasionally elongated; antennae long to very long (in some Macrocerinae several times longer than body), sometimes with strongly laterally flattened segments. Thorax hump-backed; wing membrane hyaline or with markings or fasciae (especially in Macrocerinae); Sc ending in C, R and M fused for short distance; R usually with three branches. Legs long and slender though relatively shorter in plumper species. Abdomen long, either narrow or somewhat swollen, sometimes distinctly flattened dorsoventrally.
Biology. Larvae are usually found in damp and dark places, most often under Polyporaceae (bracket fungi) in forest. There they build webs to collect spores (mycophagous species) or capture small living invertebrate prey (predaceous species). Predaceous species use an acid fluid to kill their prey with an acid fluid. Mycophagous are reported to occasionally feed on pupae of their own species or on dead insects. Some exotic species have luminescent larvae and sometimes adults. Adults may be found on flowers.
General references. Hutson et al. (1980 [keys]), Kjærandsen (2009 [Urytalpa]), Krivosheina & Mamaev (1988a [catalogue Keroplatinae], 1988b [catalogue Macrocerinae]), Ševčík et al. (2015 [key to genera Keroplatini]), Vockeroth (1981 [general, key to genera]).
References to the local fauna. Beuk (1996g), Beuk et al. (1993, 1994, 1995), Krivosheina & Mamaev (1988a), De Meijere (1916, 1939b), Van der Wulp (1868, 1877).
Remarks. World species number after Evenhuis (2006).
How to quote this page: Beuk, P.L.Th., 2020. Family Keroplatidae. In: Beuk, P.L.Th. (Ed.): Checklist of the Diptera of the Netherlands, https://diptera-info.nl/news.php?fam=Keroplatidae (date accessed: 27/07/2024).
NL: 38, 3I
B: 42
D: 38
UK: 52
World: 952
KEROPLATIDAE
KEROPLATINAE
Cerotelion Rondani, 1856
striatum (Gmelin, 1790)
N
Note 1
= lineatum (Fabricius, 1775): preocc.
N
= laticornis (Meigen, 1818)
Isoneuromyia Brunetti, 1912
semirufa (Meigen, 1818)
N
= fulvipes (Meigen, 1818)
= concolor (Van der Wulp, 1874)
T
Keroplatus Bosc, 1792
= Ceroplatus Fabricius, 1798: emend.
reaumurii (Dufour, 1839)
N
= sesioides (Wahlberg, 1839): misident. sensu De Meijere, 1916
N; first recorded in original checklist (Beuk, 2002d)
Note 5
inversa Loew, 1869
lutea Meigen, 1804
phalerata Meigen, 1818
N
= maculipennis Macquart, 1826
stigma Curtis, 1837
N
stigmoides Edwards, 1925
tusca Loew, 1869
vittata Meigen, 1830
N
PLATYURINAE
Platyura Meigen, 1803
Note 6
= Apemon Johanssen, 1909
marginata Meigen, 1804
N
= atrata (Fabricius, 1805)
Deleted species
Isoneuromyia Brunetti, 1912
vitripennis (Meigen, 1830)
Note 7
Macrocera Meigen, 1803
nana Macquart, 1826
Note 8
Notes
Note 1
Thompson & Pont (1994) confirmed the validity of striatum as replacement name for lineatum (Fabricius, 1775) (nec Scopoli, 1763).
Note 2
Material examined: Material examined: GELDERLAND: Neerijnen (2 [m][m]: 14-17.vii.1991, leg. B. van Aartsen MT [BEUK]; 3 [m][m], 1 [f]: 21-24.vii.1991, leg. B. van Aartsen MT [BEUK]; 2 [m][m]: 21-24.vii.1991, leg. B. van Aartsen MT [RMNH]; 1 [m]: 29.vii-3.viii.1991, leg. B. van Aartsen MT [BEUK]), det P.L.Th. Beuk.
Note 3
The correct identity of ochracea was pointed out by Kjærandsen et al. (2009).
This species was recorded as unicolor from the Netherlands by Krivosheina & Mamamev (1988a: 206) but this may have been due to the confusing record by De Meijere (1939b: 142). However, recent material was examined and subsequently published as unicolor (Beuk et al., 1994: xix).
Note 4
Misidentification pointed out by Kjærandsen et al. (2009).
Note 5
Material examined: DRENTE: Bargerveen (Barger Oosterveen, 1 [f]: 9.vi.2000, leg. B. van Aartsen MT [BEUK]), det P.L.Th. Beuk.
Note 6
The classification of Platyura in the subfamily Platyurinae follows Mantič et al. (2020).
Note 7
Under this species name Krivosheina & Mamaev (1988a: 202) erroneously listed concolor, thus implying occurrence in the Netherlands.
Note 8
M. nana Macquart was given in a list of new synonyms by Van der Wulp (1868: 226) without stating the source of the synonymy. Since nana Macquart was never recorded afterwards, it is presumed that the synonymy was not based on the examination of Dutch material.
The latest revisions at different levels
The family introduction was last edited on 11-06-2015 12:33
Platyuridae was the last (sub)family to be edited on 05-06-2020 10:16
Proceroplatus was the last (sub)genus to be edited on 08-12-2020 16:58
Proceroplatus trinidadensis was the last (sub)species to be edited on 08-12-2020 16:59
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