Ellipteroides
Becker, 1907
Ellipteroides is a of (: : Chioneinae) comprising 122 extant distributed across all biogeographical regions except Australasia. The genus includes five subgenera (Ellipteroides, Progonomyia, Protogonomyia, Ptilostenodes, Ramagonomyia, Sivagonomyia) plus three newly proposed subgenera (Afroellipteroides, Iberiopteroides, Photogonomyia) and a new fossil subgenus Jantares from Eocene Baltic amber. Species are small blackish with characteristic thoracic and abdominal stripes. The fossil record includes two Eocene species: E. kishenehn from Middle Eocene Montana and E. hansi from Priabonian Baltic amber (38-34 million years ago).
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Ellipteroides: /ɛˌlɪptəˈroʊɪdiːz/
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Identification
Members of the are distinguished by small size and blackish coloration with thoracic and abdominal stripes. The newly described subgenus Jantares is characterized by a closed , m-cu positioned at Mb, and highly modified male terminalia with very long interbases and simplified unbranched outer gonostylus. Subgeneric relies on male genitalic structures and patterns.
Habitat
Specific data are limited to two with documented bionomics. Ellipteroides alboscutellatus has been observed in tufa flushes with moss. Ellipteroides nigrobimbo occurs in saturated sand, with occurring in dry sand spits. The broader habitat preferences for the majority of species remain unknown.
Distribution
Present on all biogeographical regions except Australasia. Documented from Denmark, Norway, and Sweden (GBIF records). Fossil distribution includes Eocene Baltic amber (Priabonian, 38-34 million years ago) and the Middle Eocene Kishenehn Formation in Montana, USA.
Life Cycle
For Ellipteroides alboscutellatus: are laid on moss in tufa flush environments; inhabit saturated sand. For Ellipteroides nigrobimbo: larvae live in saturated organic sand, with found in dry sand spits. details for other are unknown.
More Details
Taxonomic Structure
The contains five established subgenera: Ellipteroides (14 ), Progonomyia (42 species), Protogonomyia (37 species), Ptilostenodes (9 species), Ramagonomyia (2 species), and Sivagonomyia (1 species). Recent phylogenetic work has proposed additional subgenera Afroellipteroides, Iberiopteroides, and Photogonomyia to resolve relationships, plus the fossil subgenus Jantares with species E. hansi from Baltic amber.
Fossil Record
Two fossil are known: Ellipteroides kishenehn from the Middle Eocene Kishenehn Formation in Montana, USA, and Ellipteroides (Jantares) hansi from Priabonian Baltic amber (38-34 million years ago). The Baltic amber specimen represents the first definitive fossil record of the in European .