Winnertziinae

Genus Guides

Winnertziinae is a of gall midges and wood midges in the Cecidomyiidae (Diptera). The subfamily contains three recognized tribes: Diallactiini, Heteropezini, and Winnertziini, plus several of uncertain placement. The genus Winnertzia is exceptionally speciose, with 136 extant documented across Sweden, Peru, and Tasmania. Members are predominantly mycophagous, feeding on fungal substrates.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Winnertziinae: /wɪˌnɛrtsiˈaɪniː/

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Identification

Winnertziinae can be distinguished from other Cecidomyiidae by tribal-level characters. In Diallactiini, the gonostylus typically consists of a single lobe (except in Loboplusia, which has two lobes). In Winnertziini, male genitalia feature a conspicuously long exposed gonostylar claw with dense, large setae bordering the gonocoxal emargination in the W. setosa group. Loboplusia males possess a bright membranous prescutellar window on the , fringed setae on the legs especially the , and a markedly shortened bridge connecting the gonocoxites ventrobasally.

Habitat

Diverse including cloud forests, temperate forests, and various geographic regions sampled by . Associated with fungal substrates due to mycophagous feeding .

Distribution

distribution with records from: Sweden (93 Winnertzia ), Peru (first Neotropical record), Tasmania (first Australasian record), Rica, South Korea, eastern North America (Tennessee, Appalachian Mountains), Africa (Congo), and numerous fossil localities including Baltic amber (Eocene), Rovno amber (Ukraine, Eocene), Canadian amber (Campanian), Burmese amber (Myanmar, Cenomanian), Lebanese amber (Barremian), Spanish amber (Albian), Sakhalin amber (Russia, Lutetian), and Oise amber (France, Ypresian).

Diet

Mycophagous (fungus-feeding). Winnertzia feed on fungal substrates.

Similar Taxa

CecidomyiinaeOther of Cecidomyiidae; distinguished by different larval ecologies including and rather than predominant mycophagy
PorricondylinaeOther of Cecidomyiidae; distinguished by morphological and ecological differences not specified in available sources

More Details

Taxonomic composition

The comprises three tribes: Diallactiini (9 extant including Haplusia, Diallactia, Gynapteromyia, Sylvenomyia, Wyattella, Ferovisenda, plus fossil genera), Heteropezini (11 extant genera including Heteropeza, Miastor, Henria, Brittenia, plus numerous fossil genera), and Winnertziini (7 extant genera including Winnertzia, Clinorhytis, Kronomyia, Ekmanomyia, plus fossil genera). Parwinnertzia has been synonymized with Winnertzia.

Fossil record

Extensive fossil record from Cretaceous through Eocene amber deposits, including †Cretohaplusia (Albian), †Ganseriella (Cenomanian), †Cretomiastor (Campanian), †Cretowinnertzia (Campanian), †Lebanowinnertzia (Barremian), †Libanoclinorrhytis (Barremian), and multiple Eocene from Baltic, Rovno, Sakhalin, and Oise ambers.