Diagnosis. Small, short-legged midges (less than 6.0 mm). Body covered by a dense vestiture of hairs and setae, but less so in Sycoracinae. Head with reniform eyes connected by an eye bridge (Psychodinae) or with circular eyes (other subfamilies); antennae with 14-16 segments, often adorned with single or paired ascoids; mouth parts non-functional, except in Sycoracinae (blood-sucking on amphibians and reptiles). Wings oval with 9-10 longitudinal veins and almost no cross-veins; anal area reduced; R with four (Sycoracinae, Trichomyiinae) or five branches (Psychodinae); M with three branches; wings in rest held roof-like over abdomen but flat in Sycoracinae and almost all Telmatoscopini and Pericomini. Adults of Psychodinae with hump-backed appearance because of reduced sternite 1. Male genitalia not inverted in Sycoracinae, inverted by torsion of egments 7 and 8 in Trichomyiinae, and inverted by torsion of segment 9 in Psychodinae. The rear margin of the male head in some genera of Psychodinae with permanently inverted structures (cornicula), that play a role in courtship behaviour, as well as further structures (permanently or accidentally eversible patagia and tegulae) on the male pro- and mesothorax. Some of these are covered with hairs and setae of contrasting colour, others produce pheromones. Coloration and pheromones play a decisive role in courtship behaviour. Larvae of Psychodinae are heavily sclerotized and consist of 26 or 27 body 'rings' (pseudosegments or annuli). The pattern of hairs and setae on the segments often is specific, so that the larvae of Psychodinae are determinable down to species level. Larvae of Trichomyiinae are vermiform. Larvae of Sycoracinae are very small and asselliform.
Biology. The metapneustic larvae prefer moist or aquatic environments near ponds, lakes, streams, and even in man-made habitats. Main larval requirements are food, a substratum on or in which they can move, and almost permanent contact with atmospheric oxygen. There are four larval instars. Sycoracinae are univoltine and their larvae live in moss carpets near springs and natural wetlands along streams and small unpolluted rivers. Trichomyiinae are univoltine and their larvae are restricted to dead and decaying wood, preferably of old willow and alder. In the Psychodinae most species of the Pericomini and Telmatoscopini are univoltine in Northern Europe, but in Central Europe up to two generations per year may develop, and even more in Southern Europe. Psychodini in general are polyvoltine. Larvae feed on decaying organic matter, those of Psychodini prefer the eutrophic conditions of the dung of ungulates and a few of carnivores, some are abundant even in sewage treatments works (e.g., the trickling filter fly, Psychoda (Tinearia) alternata). However, most may be classified as collectors, or micro-shredders of almost every kind of decaying organic matter in streams. There are numerous adjustments to ecological conditions in different genera or species, that enable larvae to survive even under conditions of fast flowing alpine streams. Adults are weak flyers.
General references. Chandler (1998a [classification]), Jung (1958 [Trichomyiinae]), Quate & Vockeroth (1981 [general, keys to North American genera]), Vaillant (1971, 1972a, 1972b, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1978, 1979, 1981a, and 1983 [Psychodinae, general, keys to species of adults and larvae]), Wagner (1982 [Trichomyiinae], 1990a [catalogue], 1997a [general, keys to genera], 1999 [classification]).
References to the local fauna. Boumans (2009a, 2009b, 2011), Ciliberti (2017), Ciliberti et al. (2017), Cuppen (2009), Ježek (1994, 1996), De Meijere (1935, 1939b), Mol (1984), Wagner (1990a).
How to quote this page: Wagner, R., & P.L.Th. Beuk, 2023. Family Psychodidae. In: Beuk, P.L.Th. (Ed.): Checklist of the Diptera of the Netherlands, https://diptera-info.nl/news.php?fam=Psychodidae (date accessed: 25/04/2024).
NL: 63, 1?
B: 72
D: 57, 1?
UK: 99
World: 3000
PSYCHODIDAE
PSYCHODINAE
Maruinini
Tonnoiriella Vaillant, 1972
pulchra (Eaton, 1893)
added by Mol (1984: 81)
Pericomaini
Note 1
Clytocerus Eaton, 1904
subg. Boreoclytocerus Duckhouse, 1978
dalii (Eaton, 1893)
N; added by Ježek (2020: 367) and Mol et al. (2020:134)
N; added by Ježek (2020: 367) and Mol et al. (2020:134)
Philosepedon Eaton, 1904
Note 3
subg. Philosepedon Eaton, 1904
humeralis (Meigen, 1818)
perdecorum Omelková & Ježek, 2012
T; added by Omelková & Ježek (2012: 37)
Psychoda Latreille, 1798
subg. Apsycha Ježek, 2007
pusilla Tonnoir, 1922
Note 4
subg. Copropsychoda Vaillant, 1971
Note 5
brevicornis Tonnoir, 1940
added by Ježek (1996: 92, 203)
subg. Logima Eaton, 1904
Note 5
albipennis Zetterstedt, 1850
= severini Tonnoir, 1922
= parthenogenetica Tonnoir, 1940
erminea Eaton, 1893
Note 6
satchelli Quate, 1955
added by Ježek (1996: 92, 203)
sigma Kincaid, 1889
N; added as surcoufi by Boumans (2009b: 11)
= surcoufi Tonnoir, 1922
Note 7
zetterstedti (Ježek, 1983)
added by Ježek (1996: 92, 203)
Note 8
subg. Psycha Ježek, 1984
Note 5
grisescens Tonnoir, 1922
subg. Psychoda Latreille, 1798
crassipenis Tonnoir, 1940
added by Ježek (1996: 92, 203)
Note 9
phalaenoides (Linnaeus, 1758)
uniformata Haseman, 1907
added by Jaume-Schinkel et al. (2023: 9)
subg. Psychodocha Ježek, 1984
Note 5
cinerea Banks, 1894
gemina (Eaton, 1904)
added by Wagner (1990a: 47)
subg. Psychodula Ježek, 1984
Note 5
minuta Banks, 1894
added by Ježek (1996: 92, 203)
subg. Psychomora Ježek, 1984
trinodulosa Tonnoir, 1922
added by Ježek (1996: 92, 203)
Note 10
subg. Tinearia Schellenberg, 1803
Note 5
alternata (Say, 1824)
lativentris (Berdén, 1952)
added by Ježek (1996: 92, 203)
subg. Ypsychoda Ježek, 1984
setigera Tonnoir, 1922
N; added by Boumans (2011: 59)
Threticus Eaton, 1904
lucifugus (Walker, 1856)
added by Beuk (2021a: 174)
Note 11
Trichopsychoda Tonnoir, 1922
hirtella Tonnoir, 1919
N; added by Boumans (2011: 61)
Telmatoscopini
Clogmia Enderlein, 1937
Note 12
albipunctata (Williston, 1893)
N; added by Boumans (2009a: 1)
rothschildi (Eaton, 1912)
Jungiella Vaillant, 1972
= Parajungiella Vaillant, 1972
consors (Eaton, 1893)
longicornis (Tonnoir, 1919)
soleata (Haliday in Walker, 1856)
Mormia Enderlein, 1935
subg. Hemimormia Krek, 1971
albicornis (Tonnoir, 1919)
subg. Katamormia Ježek, 1984
acuminata (Strobl, 1901)
subg. Limomormia Vaillant, 1982
= Jovamormia Ježek, 1984
caliginosa (Eaton, 1893)
Panimerus Eaton, 1913
albifacies (Tonnoir, 1919)
albomaculatus (Wahlgren, 1904)
goetghebueri (Tonnoir, 1919)
added by Ciliberti et al. (2017: 63) and Ciliberti (2017: 240)
maynei (Tonnoir, 1920)
added by Jaume-Schinkel et al. (2023: 7)
notabilis (Eaton, 1893)
Paramormia Enderlein, 1935
= Duckhousiella Vaillant, 1972
fratercula (Eaton, 1893)
ustulata (Haliday in Walker, 1856)
Peripsychoda Enderlein, 1935
auriculata (Haliday in Curtis, 1839)
fusca (Macquart, 1826)
Seoda Enderlein, 1935
Note 13
= Telmatoscopus Eaton, 1904: sensu auct.
ambigua (Eaton, 1893)
added by Ciliberti et al. (2017: 64)
morula (Eaton, 1893)
schlitzensis (1975, 1893)
added by Ciliberti et al. (2017: 64)
similis Tonnoir, 1922
SYCORACINAE
TRICHOMYIINAE
Trichomyia Curtis, 1839
urbica Haliday in Curtis, 1839
Doubtful species
Mormia Enderlein, 1935
subg. Limomormia Vaillant, 1982
furva (Tonnoir, 1940)
Note 14
Deleted species
Clogmia Enderlein, 1937
tristis (Meigen, 1830)
Note 15
Notes
Note 1
The previously used name Pericomini is preoccupied by the Dermapteran subfamily Pericominae (derives from the genus Pericomus). The use of Pericomaini as an alternate spelling follows Sabrosky (1999).
Note 2
Former subgenus of Bazarella Vaillant, 1960, raised to generic level by Ježek (2001).
Note 3
Source of changed placement from Telmatoscopini to Psychodini still needs to be added.
Note 4
Placement in subgenus Apsycha following Boumans (2011).
Note 5
Treated as subgenus of Psychoda following Boumans (2011).
Note 6
Year of description 1998 as used by Wagner & Beuk (2002a) corrected to 1893 (see Bouwmans, 2011).
Note 7
The synonymy was already established by Withers (1988) but who neglected to apply the rules of priority.
Note 8
According to Boumans (2011) zetterstedti resembles satchelli very closely and might even prove to be synonymous.
Note 9
Spelling of species crassipennis as used by Wagner & Beuk (2002a) corrected to crassipenis (see Bouwmans, 2011).
Note 10
Placement in subgenus Psychomora following Boumans (2011).
Note 11
Material examined: OVERIJSSEL: Vasse (Hazelbekke, 1 [m]: 16-18.v.1998, leg. B. van Aartsen MT [NHMM ALC]).
Note 12
Use of genus author Ježek, 1983 as used by Wagner & Beuk(2002a corrected to Enderlein, 1937 (see Bouwmans, 2009a).
Note 13
Nomenclatorial issues surrounding Telmatoscopus and Seoda were discussed by Kvifte (2014).
Note 14
Listed for the Netherlands by Ježek et al. (2012: 122) in the distribution of the species but the record for the Netherlands could not be traced back to any of the references given.
Note 15
After earlier records this species was deleted by De Meijere (1935: 225) and not included in De Meijere (1939b).
The latest revisions at different levels
The family introduction was last edited on 21-07-2017 14:51
Sycoracidae was the last (sub)family to be edited on 28-01-2014 18:20
Maruinini was the last tribe to be edited on 11-07-2016 12:44
Threticus was the last (sub)genus to be edited on 31-07-2021 19:47
Psychoda uniformata was the last (sub)species to be edited on 26-09-2023 10:09
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