Paracoenia
Cresson, 1935
shore flies
Paracoenia is a of (: ) found in aquatic and semi-aquatic . within this genus are associated with thermal springs, saline or alkaline lakes, and pond margins. develop in moist substrates at water edges, while and larvae feed on microorganisms including filamentous -green . The genus serves as an intermediate for parasitic water and has been studied as an indicator of in thermal environments.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Paracoenia: //ˌpær.əˈsiː.ni.ə//
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Images
Habitat
Thermal spring effluents; moist sand or mud along shorelines of saline or alkaline lakes and ponds; filamentous -green algal mats in thermal systems.
Distribution
Palearctic (Denmark, Norway, Sweden); Yellowstone thermal effluent systems (North America).
Seasonality
May to October (based on P. fumosa records).
Diet
Filamentous -green ; microorganisms (including algae and bacteria) in hot spring effluents.
Host Associations
- Partnuniella - Water parasitize Paracoenia ; and larval load serve as indicators of algal mat .
Life Cycle
, three larval , . develop in moist sand or mud at water's edge. High enables exploitation of temporary cool spots in algal mats.
Behavior
Grazing on algal mats; exploitation of temporary cool spots in thermal environments due to rapid reproductive capacity.
Ecological Role
Primary consumer (grazer) in thermal spring and saline lake ; intermediate for water ; trophic link between -green and higher ; for algal mat through mite levels.
Similar Taxa
- EphydraAlso feeds on microorganisms in hot springs; differs in specific preferences and morphological details.
Sources and further reading
- BugGuide
- Wikipedia
- GBIF taxonomy match
- iNaturalist taxon
- NCBI Taxonomy
- Catalogue of Life
- Biology and Immature Stages of Paracoenia bisetosa (Coquillett) (Diptera: Ephydridae)1
- Feeding by Paracoenia and Ephydra (Diptera> Ephydridae) on the Microorganisms of Hot Springs
- Ecology of yellowstone thermal effluent systems: Intersects of blue-green algae, grazing flies (Paracoenia, Ephydridae) and water mites (Partnuniella, Hydrachnellae)