Clinohelea bimaculata
This record describes Clinohelea bimaculata (species). Recorded family: Ceratopogonidae. Recorded order: Diptera.
Identification and Appearance
Distinguished from all other Nearctic Clinohelea by the following combination of characters: legs mainly yellow with a dark subapical band on the hind femur, two-spotted wings, and antennal pedicel yellow. -- Grogan and Wirth 1976 (see genus page). The pedicel of the male is dark; Ceratopogonidae are usually described based on females.
Wikipedia reference for Clinohelea bimaculata: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clinohelea_bimaculata.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Diptera (Flies)
- Superfamily
- Chironomoidea
- Family
- Ceratopogonidae (Biting Midges)
- Subfamily
- Ceratopogoninae
- Tribe
- Heteromyiini
- Genus
- Clinohelea
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
"This species is a common inhabitant of wooded, swampy situations." Wirth and Grogan 1979
Geographic Range
"This is the commonest of the 7 North American species in this genus. It occurs west to Texas, north to Michigan and New Hampshire."
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Bimaculata means two-spotted. The wings have two dark spots.
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Diptera, the group containing Clinohelea bimaculata. 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 Clinohelea bimaculata (3)
Photo credits: Contributed by John F. Carr
Frequently Asked Questions About Clinohelea bimaculata
What is Clinohelea bimaculata?
Clinohelea bimaculata is a species in the family Ceratopogonidae, within the order Diptera.
How do you identify Clinohelea bimaculata?
Distinguished from all other Nearctic Clinohelea by the following combination of characters: legs mainly yellow with a dark subapical band on the hind femur, two-spotted wings, and antennal pedicel yellow. -- Grogan and Wirth 1976 (see genus page). The pedicel of the male is dark; Ceratopogonidae are usually described based on females.
Where is Clinohelea bimaculata found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | This species is a common inhabitant of wooded, swampy situations. Wirth and Grogan 1979 |
| Range | This is the commonest of the 7 North American species in this genus. It occurs west to Texas, north to Michigan and New Hampshire. |