Dolichocephala
Macquart, 1823
dagger flies
Species Guides
1Dolichocephala is a of empidid flies (dagger flies) in the Clinocerinae, established by Macquart in 1823. The genus contains at least 50 described distributed across the Holarctic and Oriental regions. Recent taxonomic revisions have significantly expanded the known in North America and Southeast Asia.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Dolichocephala: /doʊlɪkoʊˈsɛfələ/
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Identification
can be distinguished from other Clinocerinae by their elongated, narrow (the source of the name 'dolicho-' meaning long, 'cephala' meaning head). Males possess distinctive terminalia useful for -level identification. Wing venation patterns and male genitalia are primary diagnostic characters used in species keys.
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Distribution
Holarctic and Oriental regions. Documented from North America (north of Mexico), Europe (including Denmark, Norway, Sweden), and Thailand. Six new described from North America; seven new species from Thailand.
Similar Taxa
- Other Clinocerinae generaSimilar body plan and wing venation; distinguished by Dolichocephala's characteristic elongated and male terminalia
More Details
Taxonomic history
Previous Nearctic records of D. irrorata Fallén were found to be based on misidentifications. D. bellstedti was newly recorded from Sweden in the 2012 revision.