''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

Africa Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent, after Asia in both cases. At about 30.3 million km2 (11.7 million square miles) including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of Earth's total surface area ...

malaria Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease that affects humans and other animals. Malaria causes symptoms that typically include fever, tiredness, vomiting, and headaches. In severe cases, it can cause jaundice, seizures, coma, or death. S ...

vectors .

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 ''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 ...

'' Clausen, 1977 *''

Ochthera anatolikos ''Ochthera anatolikos'' is a species of shore flies in the family Ephydridae. Distribution Canada, United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country pr ...

'' Clausen, 1977 *''

Ochthera angustifacies ''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 ...

'' ( Hendel, 1930) *''

Ochthera angustitarsus ''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 ...

Becker Becker () is one of the German-language surnames, along with Bäcker and Baecker, that derive from the root, which refers to baking. The surname began as a name for a baker (and thus his family). In northern Germany it can also derive from the ...

, 1903 *''

Ochthera argyrata ''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 ...

'' Wirth, 1955 *''

Ochthera baia ''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 ...

Cresson ''Cresson'' is the French word for ''watercress''. It may refer to: ; Places * Battle of Cresson, a small battle fought on May 1, 1187, in what now is Israel, near Nazareth * Cresson, Pennsylvania, a United States borough * Cressona, Pennsylvania, ...

, 1931 *''

Ochthera borealis ''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 ...

'' Clausen, 1977 *''

Ochthera brevitivialis ''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 ...

'' Meijere, 1908 *''

Ochthera caeruleovittata ''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 ...

'' Hendel, 1930 *''

Ochthera canescens ''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 ...

, 1931 *''

Ochthera canzonerii ''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 ...

'' Raffone, 2002 *''

Ochthera chalybescens ''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 ...

'' Loew, 1862 *''

Ochthera circularis ''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 ...

, 1926 *''

Ochthera clauseni ''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 ...

'' Raffone, 2002 *''

Ochthera collina ''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 ...

'' Clausen, 1977 *''

Ochthera cressoni ''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 ...

'' Giordani Soika, 1956 *''

Ochthera cuprilineata ''Ochthera cuprilineata'' is a species of shore flies in the family Ephydridae. Distribution United States, West Indies, Neotropical The Neotropical realm is one of the eight biogeographic realms constituting Earth's land surface. Physicall ...

'' Wheeler, 1896 *'' Ochthera dasylenos'' Clausen, 1977 *''

Ochthera exsculpta ''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 ...

'' Loew, 1862 *''

Ochthera friderichsi ''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 ...

'' Enderlein, 1922 *''

Ochthera guangdongensis ''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 ...

'' Zhang & Yang, 2006 *''

Ochthera hainanensis ''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 ...

'' Zhang & Yang, 2006 *''

Ochthera harpax ''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 ...

'' Meijere, 1911 *''

Ochthera humilis ''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 ...

'' Williston, 1896 *'' Ochthera innotata'' Walker, 1860 *'' Ochthera insularis''

, 1910 *'' Ochthera japonica'' Clausen, 1977 *''

Ochthera jos ''Ochthera'' is a genus of fly, flies in the family of Ephydridae, 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 mosqui ...

, 1939 *''

Ochthera lauta ''Ochthera lauta'' is a species of shore flies in the family Ephydridae. Distribution United States, West Indies and Central America Central America ( es, América Central or ) is a subregion of the Americas. Its boundaries are define ...

'' Wheeler, 1896 *''

Ochthera loreta ''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 ...

, 1931 *''

Ochthera macrothrix ''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 ...

'' Clasuen, 1977 *''

Ochthera manicata ''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 ...

'' (

Fabricius Fabricius ( la, smith, german: Schmied, Schmidt) is a surname. Notable people with the surname include: *people from the Ancient Roman gens Fabricia: **Gaius Fabricius Luscinus, the first of the Fabricii to move to Rome * Johann Goldsmid (1587� ...

, 1794) *''

Ochthera mantis ''Ochthera mantis'', the mantis fly, is a shore fly (family Ephydridae). The species was first described by Charles De Geer in 1776. It is a Holarctic species with a limited distribution in Europe.De Geer The De Geer family (also: De Geer van Jutphaas and De Geer van Oudegein) is a prominent industrial family of Walloon origin that belongs to the Swedish and Dutch nobility. History The name derives from the town of Geer near Liège (in present ...

, 1776) *''

Ochthera mantispa ''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 ...

'' Loew, 1847 *'' Ochthera margarita''

, 1932 *''

Ochthera nigricoxa ''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 ...

'' (

, 1938) *''

Ochthera nigripes ''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 ...

'' ( Enderlein, 1922) *'' Ochthera occidentalis'' Clausen, 1977 *'' Ochthera painteri''

, 1931 *'' Ochthera palaearctica'' Clausen, 1977 *''

Ochthera palearctica ''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 ...

'' Clausen, 1977 *''

Ochthera pilimana ''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 ...

, 1903 *'' Ochthera pilosa''

, 1926 *''

Ochthera praedatoria ''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 ...

'' Loew, 1862 *''

Ochthera regalis ''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 ...

'' Williston, 1897 *'' Ochthera rossii'' Raffone, 2002 *''

Ochthera rotunda ''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 ...

'' Schiner, 1868 *''

Ochthera sauteri ''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 ...

, 1932 *''

Ochthera schembrii ''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 ...

'' Rondani, 1847 *''

Ochthera setigera ''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 ...

Czerny Czerny is a surname meaning "black" in some Slavic languages. It is one of many variant forms, including Czarny, Černý, Czernik, Cherney, and Čierny, among others. People Notable people with this surname include: *Adalbert Czerny (1863−1941 ...

, 1909 *''

Ochthera speculifera ''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 ...

'' ( Enderlein, 1922) *''

Ochthera subtilis ''Ochthera'' is a genus of fly, flies in the family of Ephydridae, 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 mosqui ...

'' Adams, 1905 *''

Ochthera triornata ''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 ...

, 1926 *''

Ochthera tuberculata ''Ochthera tuberculata'' is a species of shore flies (insects in the family Ephydridae). Distribution United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country ...

'' Loew, 1862 *''

Ochthera wrighti ''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 ...

, 1931

References

Ephydridae Ephydroidea genera Taxa named by Pierre André Latreille Diptera of North America Diptera of South America Diptera of Asia Diptera of Europe Diptera of Africa {{Ephydroidea-stub