Ochthera is a genus of flies in the family of shore flies (Ephydridae). The genus is distinctive because of the swollen raptorial forelegs. The larvae are predaceous on midge larvae while the adults feed on midges and mosquitoes. The genus is found around the world with about 37 species. The species Ochthera chalybescens has been shown to prey on African malaria vectors.Minakawa, N; Futami, K.; Sonye, G.; Akweywa, P. & Kaneko, S. (2007). "Predatory capacity of a shorefly, Ochthera chalybescens, on malaria vectors". Malaria Journal. 6: 104.
Behaviour It has been noted that foreleg waving may be involved in displays and UV reflective patches on the face and fore coxae may be involved.
Spreading and waving of the foreleg is involved in same sex encounters as well as with male and female pairs during approach. It is not known if it is a threat or a recognition display. Adult Ochthera mantis have been noted to probe sand with their proboscis and when they detect prey such as chirononomid larvae, they are excavated using the fore tibial spines and held between the tibia and femora as the prey is consumed.Deonier, D. L. (1972). "Observations on Mating, Oviposition, and Food Habits of Certain Shore Flies (Diptera: Ephydridae)". The Ohio Journal of Science. 72 (1): 22-29.
All species in the genus are predaceous.
Species These 55 species belong to the genus Ochthera:
Ochthera acta Clausen, 1977 Ochthera anatolikos Clausen, 1977 Ochthera angustifacies (Hendel, 1930) Ochthera angustitarsus Becker, 1903 Ochthera argyrata Wirth, 1955 Ochthera baia Cresson, 1931 Ochthera borealis Clausen, 1977 Ochthera brevitivialis Meijere, 1908 Ochthera caeruleovittata Hendel, 1930 Ochthera canescens Cresson, 1931 Ochthera canzonerii Raffone, 2002 Ochthera chalybescens Loew, 1862 Ochthera circularis Cresson, 1926 Ochthera clauseni Raffone, 2002 Ochthera collina Clausen, 1977 Ochthera cressoni Giordani Soika, 1956 Ochthera cuprilineata Wheeler, 1896 Ochthera dasylenos Clausen, 1977 Ochthera exsculpta Loew, 1862 Ochthera friderichsi Enderlein, 1922 Ochthera guangdongensis Zhang & Yang, 2006 Ochthera hainanensis Zhang & Yang, 2006 Ochthera harpax Meijere, 1911 Ochthera humilis Williston, 1896 Ochthera innotata Walker, 1860 Ochthera insularis Becker, 1910 Ochthera japonica Clausen, 1977 Ochthera jos Cresson, 1939 Ochthera lauta Wheeler, 1896 Ochthera loreta Cresson, 1931 Ochthera macrothrix Clasuen, 1977 Ochthera manicata (Fabricius, 1794) Ochthera mantis (De Geer, 1776) Ochthera mantispa Loew, 1847 Ochthera margarita Cresson, 1932 Ochthera nigricoxa (Cresson, 1938) Ochthera nigripes (Enderlein, 1922) Ochthera occidentalis Clausen, 1977 Ochthera painteri Cresson, 1931 Ochthera palaearctica Clausen, 1977 Ochthera palearctica Clausen, 1977 Ochthera pilimana Becker, 1903 Ochthera pilosa Cresson, 1926 Ochthera praedatoria Loew, 1862 Ochthera regalis Williston, 1897 Ochthera rossii Raffone, 2002 Ochthera rotunda Schiner, 1868 Ochthera sauteri Cresson, 1932 Ochthera schembrii Rondani, 1847 Ochthera setigera Czerny, 1909 Ochthera speculifera (Enderlein, 1922) Ochthera subtilis Adams, 1905 Ochthera triornata Cresson, 1926 Ochthera tuberculata Loew, 1862 Ochthera wrighti Cresson, 1931
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