Ceratopogonidae (family)

Biting Midge at Cook, ACT

Ceratopogonidae (family) at Cook, ACT - 28 Oct 2020
Ceratopogonidae (family) at Cook, ACT - 28 Oct 2020
Ceratopogonidae (family) at Cook, ACT - 28 Oct 2020
Ceratopogonidae (family) at Cook, ACT - 28 Oct 2020
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Identification history

Ceratopogonidae (family) 2 Nov 2020 KimPullen
Ceratopogonidae (family) 2 Nov 2020 KimPullen
Unidentified 31 Oct 2020 CathB

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User's notes

This tiny fly was perched on the back of the larger fly in sighting 4354301. It flew off when I accidentally disturbed it.

2 comments

KimPullen wrote:
   2 Nov 2020
Some Sand fly species are notorious for biting humans; others predate other small insects; yet others, like this one, are short-term parasites of other larger insects, sucking their body juices.
jgl wrote:
   3 Nov 2020
'Biting midge' is a less ambiguous term than 'sand fly'/'sandfly'' for ceratopogonids, as we have phlebotomine psychodids in northern Australia - use of the term 'sand fly' for ceratopognids is uncommon outsided the USA.

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Nearby sightings

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Location information

Sighting information

  • 1 Abundance
  • 28 Oct 2020 05:26 PM Recorded on
  • CathB Recorded by

Additional information

  • Perched on Inopus rubriceps Associated Insect
  • Less than 5mm Animal size

Species information

Record quality

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  • More than one media file
  • Confirmed by an expert moderator
  • Nearby sighting(s) of same species
  • GPS evidence of location
  • Description
  • Additional attributes
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