Cylindrotomidae

• Phalacrocera
• Cylindrotoma

The moss mosquitoes ( Cylindrotomidae ) are a family of two-winged flies (Diptera ) and belong to the flies ( Nematocera ). Worldwide, about 50 species of this group of animals, of which only four species known from Germany. These are medium-sized mosquitoes.

The physique of mosquitoes moss corresponds to the smaller crane flies ( Tipulidae ), the wings are at rest on top of each other on the back. Mosquitoes like to fly in the evening near water. They are not blood-suckers, but lick Schnakenart on plant juices.

The eggs are usually stored individually on the ground or on plants. Phalacrocera she sticks in the leaf axils of moss plants that protrude from the water. Cylindrotoma pushes the eggs with serrated abdomen attachments in plant tissue.

The larvae of most species have leaf - like or thread- like appendages, which serve to secure the skin to breathe. The head is retractable. They feed on terrestrial and aquatic mosses, which they resemble greatly according to shape and color mainly by the Annexes. Phalacrocera found about especially on Fontinalis spp. They are often wound around a moss sprigs and thus even less to recognize and protect against rinsing. The larvae of some species live on the ground in leaf litter. Breathing takes place through the skin or through the two rear open Tracheenöffnungen. Pupation takes place at the feeding place of the larva, the Phalacrocera doll lies horizontally on the surface of the source moss lawn, in front with the two respiratory horns, anchored behind with three appendage pairs Cylindrotoma doll is hung at the back end. Phalacrocera overwinters as a larva under water at Fontinalis.