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 | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Diptera |
| Family: | Trichoceridae |
| Genus: | Trichocera |
| Species: | T. maculipennis
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| Binomial name | |
| Trichocera maculipennis Meigen, 1818
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| Synonyms[1] | |
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Description
editThe 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
editTrichocera 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