| Oreoleptidae | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Diptera |
| Superfamily: | Tabanoidea |
| Family: | Oreoleptidae Zloty, Sinclair & Pritchard, 2005[1] |
| Genus: | Oreoleptus Zloty, Sinclair & Pritchard, 2005[1] |
| Species: | O. torrenticola |
| Binomial name | |
| Oreoleptus torrenticola Zloty, Sinclair & Pritchard, 2005[1] | |
Oreoleptidae is a family offlies (insects in the order Diptera). The family was established in 2005 on the basis of the type speciesOreoleptis torrenticola placed in the monotypic genusOreoleptis. The only known species was collected from the Rocky Mountains where the larvae grow in torrential streams. Larvae have also been found in groundwater wells. The larvae are similar to those ofAthericidae andTabanidae but with long crocheted false-legs (prolegs) arising from abdominal segments 2-7. The larvae have hollow mandibular hooks.
The aberrant larvae had been collected in the past in the United States and considered as athericids, but entomologists had been unable to identify the adult stage until 2005 when adults were reared from larvae. The adults were found very similar toPelecorhynchidae when identifying using the key in McAlpine's 1981Manual of Nearctic Diptera, but they stand apart due to the aedeagal tines and other male reproductive parts which indicate a clear similarity to the Athericidae and Tabanidae. The adults are dull grey with stylate antennae. The wing has cell r1 open.[1]
The name is said to be derived from Greekoreos (mountain) andleptos (thin, delicate).[1] The proper word for "mountain" isoros (ὄρος) in ancient Greek.[2]
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