Chaoborus albatus
This record describes Chaoborus albatus (species). Recorded family: Chaoboridae. Recorded order: Diptera.
Identification and Appearance
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Additional details | A small species with spotted wings and legs unmarked except for faint brownish bands at joints. Original description (Johnson 1921): Male - Head white; around the base of the antennae, the tips of the palpi and proboscis brown; the plumose antennae white, the joints narrowly annulated with black. |
| Thorax | Thorax white, with long whitish hairs, and three broad brown stripes, the dorsal stripe narrowly divided, the others not extending forward of the suture; two small brown spots in front of the suture and a row of spots on the pleurae, the latter forming an interrupted stripe below the base of the wings; scutellum white, metanotum dark brown. |
| Abdomen | Abdomen white, translucent, with long white hairs; a small brown spot on the anterior angles of each segment; genital appendages yellow, tipped with brown. Halteres white. |
| Legs | Legs white, the extreme base of the front femora, a subapical band on all of the femora, and the tips of all the tibiae and tarsal joints brown. |
| Wings | Wings whitish-hyaline, with conspicuous brown spots at the tips of the first and second veins but less distinct at the tips of the other veins; distinct spots are also present at the base of the third vein, the cross-vein, and fork of the fifth vein. Length 5 mm. This resembles C. punctipennis Say, but that species has more numerous spots on the wings and the femora and tibiae are finely punctate with black. |
Wikipedia reference for Chaoborus albatus: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chaoborus_albatus.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Diptera (Flies)
- Superfamily
- Culicoidea
- Family
- Chaoboridae (Phantom Midges)
- Genus
- Chaoborus
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Diptera, the group containing Chaoborus albatus. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Diptera includes over 150,000 described species of flies, mosquitoes, and midges. Mosquitoes are the deadliest animal on Earth (CDC). Malaria alone causes ~249 million cases and over 608,000 deaths annually, mostly children under 5 (WHO). Vector-borne diseases account for over 17% of all infectious diseases, causing 700,000+ deaths per year.
Ecological role of the group
Despite their disease impact, flies are critical decomposers and pollinators. Hoverflies alone pollinate hundreds of crop and wildflower species. Flies are also the primary food source for many birds, bats, and fish. Forensic entomology relies heavily on fly species for crime scene analysis.
Economic and practical significance of the group
In the U.S., vector-borne disease cases tripled between 2004-2016, with over 640,000 cases reported in that period (CDC). Tickborne diseases doubled from 22,000 to 48,000 annual reports. Globally, mosquito-borne diseases cost billions in healthcare and lost productivity.
Recorded sources for this group: WHO, CDC, PNAS. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Chaoborus albatus (3)
Photo credits: Contributed by John F. Carr