Forcipomyiinae
Guides
Atrichopogon
biting midges, grass punkies
Atrichopogon is a genus of small biting midges in the family Ceratopogonidae, subfamily Forcipomyiinae. Species occur across multiple continents with documented records from the Neotropical region, Patagonia, Europe, and Asia. Some species are ectoparasites of larger insects, while others develop on aquatic vegetation or in terrestrial habitats such as rotting wood. Immature stages show habitat-specific distribution patterns: larvae of A. wirthi occur on water lettuce leaves, and larvae of European Meloehelea subgenus species inhabit rotting pine wood.
Atrichopogon fusculus
Atrichopogon fusculus is a species of biting midge in the family Ceratopogonidae, first described by Coquillett in 1901 from the United States. The species has been recorded from multiple continents, including North America, South America, and Europe. Like other members of the genus Atrichopogon, it belongs to the subfamily Forcipomyiinae, which includes both biting and non-biting species. Specific biological details remain poorly documented in the scientific literature.
Forcipomyia glauca
Forcipomyia glauca is a species of biting midge in the family Ceratopogonidae, first described by Macfie in 1934. The genus Forcipomyia is notable for containing species that serve as specialized pollinators of cacao trees (Theobroma cacao), though the specific ecological role of F. glauca has not been individually documented. Adult females of many Forcipomyia species feed on blood or hemolymph, while males possess distinctive plumose antennae. The species has been recorded in Brazil.