Blepharicerids, commonly called net-winged midges, are slender, small to
medium-length nematocerous flies whose extant forms are most often found
in association with swift moving streams where they rest on overhanging
vegetation, bridges, and the like. Immature stages of the extant forms are
aquatic, and live in the waters of the swift moving streams where they attach
themselves to hard, smooth surfaces via ventral suckers. Larvae are grazers;
most adult males do not feed; some females feed on other insects that they
catch with specialized hind tarsi.
The described fossils listed here may not belong to the Blephariceridae.
Alexander (1958) alleges that there are no true blepharicerid fossils and
those previously described in this family may belong in other nematocerous
families: Paltostomopsis possibly being a tipulid and Philorites
possibly being a bibionid. This view was subsequently followed by Hennig
(1969c). These two genera are listed here provisionally pending further
study to ascertain their true position within the Diptera.
The two questionable genera listed below notwithstanding, undetermined material
identified as Blephariceridae has been recorded from the Cretaceous deposits
of northern Russia by Kalugina (1991: 70) and the Eocene/Oligocene deposits
of the Isle of Wight (Jarzembowski, 1978: 251).
Ref:: Carpenter (1992, world fossils).
PALTOSTOMOPSIS Cockerell, 1915c: 489. Type species: Paltostomopsis
ciliatus Cockerell, 1915, by original designation.
ciliata Cockerell, 1915c: 490. PA: UK (England) (Eocene/Oligocene)
[C].
PHILORITES Cockerell, 1908f: 264. Type species: Philorites
johannseni Cockerell, 1908, by monotypy.
johannseni Cockerell, 1908f: 264. NE: USA (Eocene) [C].
pallescens Cockerell, 1920a: 250. NE: USA (Eocene) [C].