Identification keys for the British species of family Ceratopogonidae
Because there are differences between the males and females it is necessary to present two keys below. The sexes are easily separated as females have far fewer hairs on their antennae, sometimes have their mouth-parts adapted for biting and their abdomens taper with two small appendages at the rear. Males have very bushy antennae and the tip of their abdomens are blunter with two segmented appendages which are angled inwards.
Key to the genera of female Ceratopogonidae occurring in Britain.pdfKey to the genera of male Ceratopogonidae occurring in Britain.pdfIn the current Dipterists Forum checklist there are 173 species of this family present in the British Isles (accessed 12/2023). Identification is very difficult within some genera, relying on the structure of the male genitalia. Some species are extremely abundant and this family includes biting midges that cause irritation for humans during the summer months, particularly in western Scotland. It is probably best to store specimens in alcohol and transferring them to glycerine on a cavity microscope slide for examination. They may be cleared to make the structures of the male genitalia apparent by heating in 10% potassium hydroxide for about ten minutes. After washing in distilled water and then in acetic acid, they can be returned to glycerine.
Genus Dasyhelea
Genus Dasyhelea key to the British species.pdfGenus Forcipomyia
Forcipomyia sphagnophila morphology as an exemplar of Ceratopogonidae.pdfGenus Atrichopogon
Genus Atrichopogon, key to British species.pdf