Trichocera maculipennis, commonly known as the winged winter cranefly, is a species of winter crane fly, of the order Diptera. First described by German entomologist Johann Wilhelm Meigen in 1818.
| Trichocera maculipennis | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Diptera |
| Family: | Trichoceridae |
| Genus: | Trichocera |
| Species: | T. maculipennis
|
| Binomial name | |
| Trichocera maculipennis Meigen, 1818
| |
| Synonyms[1] | |
| |
Description edit
The winged adults typically between 0.5–1 cm in length and appear between autumn and early spring.[2]
There are four larval instars that feed on decaying matter and sometimes faeces. Pupation usually lasts only a few hours.[2]
Similar to other species of Trichocera, winged winter craneflies are adapted to cold environments, but unlike most congeneric species, they seems to be tolerant to both warm and cold climates.[3]
Furthermore, unlike most congeneric species, the larvae of 'Trichocera maculipennis seem to be adapted to survive in semi-liquid or even liquid environments. They likely achieve this by raising the anal end with spiracles above the surface of the substrate.[3] This adaptation was likely a factor enabling them to establish in sewage in stations in Antarctica.
Distribution edit
Trichocera maculipennis naturally occurs across Europe, North America, Asia, and India, ranging from temperate regions to Arctic regions.[4] It is an introduced species in Antarctica and was first recorded there in the austral summer of 2006/2007.[2] Since then, there were several attempts at eradication from Antarctic stations.[3]
References edit
- ^ Registry-Migration.Gbif.Org (2023). "Trichocera maculipennis"" Meigen, 1818 in GBIF Secretariat (2023)". GBIF Backbone Taxonomy accessed via GBIF.org. doi:10.15468/39omei. Retrieved 2024-02-02.
- ^ a b c Volonterio, O.; Ponce de León, R.; Convey, P (2013). "First record of Trichoceridae (Diptera) in the maritime Antarctic". Polar Biology. 36 (8): 1125–1131. Bibcode:2013PoBio..36.1125V. doi:10.1007/s00300-013-1334-4. S2CID 253809895.
- ^ a b c Potocka Marta; Krzemińska Ewa (2018). "Trichocera maculipennis (Diptera)—an invasive species in Maritime Antarctica". PeerJ. 6: e5408. doi:10.7717/peerj.5408.
- ^ Kang Seunghyun; Kim Sanghee; Kye Chung Park; Petrašiūnas Andrius; Shin Hyung Chul; Jo Euna; Cho Sung Mi; Kim Ji Hee (2024). "Molecular evidence for multiple origins and high genetic differentiation of non-native winter crane fly, Trichocera maculipennis (Diptera: Trichoceridae), in the maritime Antarctic". Environmental Research. 242 (4): 117636. Bibcode:2024ER....242k7636K. doi:10.1016/j.envres.2023.117636. PMID 37952853.
Media related to Trichocera maculipennis at Wikimedia Commons