NEMATOCERA, Bibionomorpha, Sciaroidea

Number of British species: 3

Size: S

Difficulty: 3

Scheme: Covered by the Fungus gnat recording scheme

Small (3-4.5 mm), yellowish brown, delicate Nematocera with pale brown to grey wings with a characteristic venation. Head and eyes small; eyes dichoptic; ocelli present; antenna with 17 segments. Thorax vaulted. Legs slender, coxae elongate; tibiae with apical bristles or spurs.

The larvae feed on mycelium, encapsulated in mucous tubes in and underneath rotting wood and in mushrooms and bracket fungi. In some cases the adults are found in and around hollow tree stumps in great numbers.

Chandler (1978b), Chandler (1987b), Edwards (1913), Edwards (1925), Hutson et al. (1980)