NORTH-WESTERN JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY;
Volume: 22 (No.1) - pp. 20 - 24 - Art no:e261301
First records of Forcipomyia paludis (Macfie, 1936) (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae), an ectoparasite on adult odonates, from Türkiye, Greece, and Albania
Full-length research papers → Entomology
Authors
Nurten HACET1,*, Fethi TURGUT2, Haşim KARAGÖZ3
1. Trakya University, Faculty of Science, Department of Biology, 22030 Edirne, Türkiye
2. Sinop University, Vocational School of Health Services, Sinop, Türkiye.
3. Trakya University, Institute of Natural and Applied Sciences, Edirne, Türkiye.
* Corresponding author: N. Hacet, E-mail: nurtenhacet@trakya.edu.tr
DOI https://doi.org/10.61215/nwjz.2026.22.1.03
Download PDF
Keywords
dragonflies, biting midge, distribution, new host, Türkiye, Greece, Albania.
Abstract
The biting midge Forcipomyia paludis (Macfie, 1936) is recorded for the first time from Türkiye, based on examined specimens. The species was found in four localities in the European part of the country during 2022 and 2023. Female ectoparasitic specimens were photographed considering their morphological characteristics. Three odonate species, Caliaeschna microstigma (Schneider, 1845), Epallage fatime (Charpentier, 1840) and Cordulegaster picta Selys, 1854, are reported here as new host records for F. paludis. Additionally, an examination of photographs in a naturalists' website archive revealed records of F. paludis from Greece (Crete) and Albania, constituting the first photographic evidence for these two countries.
Article history
Received: 13 April 2025 / Accepted: 23 October 2025 / Available online-first: 15 January 2026 / Published online: 15 June 2026 / Printed: 30 June 2026
Authors` ORCID IDs
References
1. Alwin-Kownacka, A., Szadziewski, R., Szwedo, J. (2016): Biting midges of the subfamily Forcipomyiinae (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) from the Middle East, with keys and descriptions of new species. Zootaxa 4173(4): 351-378.
https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4173.4.2
2. Anduck (2021): iNaturalist.observation:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/171021784 accessed 11.03.2024
3. Boorman, J. (1997): Family Ceratopogonidae. pp: 349-368. In: Papp, L., Darvas, B. (eds.), Contributions to a Manual of Palaearctic Diptera. Volume 2, Science Herald, Budapest.
4. Borkent, A., Dominiak, P. (2020): Catalog of the biting midges of the world (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae). Zootaxa 4787(1): 1-377.
https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4787.1.1
5. Boudot, J.-P., Havelka, P., Martens, A. (2019): The biting midge Forcipomyia paludis as a parasite of Odonata in North Africa (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae). Notulae odonatologicae 9(4): 164-168.
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.3539758
6. Cerny, M. (2014): First records for Czechia of Forcipomyia paludis (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae), a midge parasitizing dragonfly imagines (Odonata: Coenagrionidae, Aeshnidae). Libellula 33(3/4): 157-162.
7. Cordero-Rivera, A., Romeo Barreiro, A., Cabana Otero, M. (2019): Forcipomyia paludis in the Iberian Peninsula, with notes on its behaviour. Boletín de la Sociedad Entomológica Aragonesa (S.E.A.) 64: 243-250.
8. Fboetzl (2022): iNaturalist.observation:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/121647507 accessed 11.03.2024.
9. Karademir, G.K., Teber, S., Kulig, C.C., Toroslu, A.M., Osman, L.B.I.S., Yıldırım, A. (2024): Complete mitochondrial genome analyses of Forcipomyia pulchrithorax (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae): genome orientation and phylogenetic implications. Kafkas Üniversitesi Veteriner Fakültesi Dergisi 30(2): 223-231.
https://doi.org/10.9775/kvid.2023.30825
10. Lappuggla (2018): iNaturalist.observation:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/150950432 accessed 11.03.2024.
11. Leclercq, M. (1966): Contribution à l'etude des diptères suceurs de sang de Turquie. Bulletin des recherches agronomiques de Gembloux 1: 455-457.
12. Lemke, M., Hryniuk, P. (2022): First record of the dragonfly biting midge Forcipomyia paludis (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) in Ukraine. Ukrainska Entomofaunistyka 13(1): 7-10.
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7158737
13. Manger, R. (2021): Odonate wing vein preferences in haemolymph sucking Forcipomyia paludis (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae, Odonata). Libellula Supplement 16: 189-200.
14. Manger, R., Martens, A. (2013): First records of Forcipomyia paludis. (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae), an ectoparasite of dragonfly adults, in the Netherlands. Entomologische Berichten 73(5): 182-184.
15. Manger, R., van der Heijden, A. (2016): Forcipomyia paludis (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae), een nieuwe libellenparasiet in Nederland. Brachytron 18(1): 50-56.
16. Martens, A., Ehmann, H., Peitzner, G., Peitzner, P., Wildermuth, H. (2008): European Odonata as hosts of Forcipomyia paludis (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae). International Journal of Odonatology 11(1): 59-70.
https://doi.org/10.1080/13887890.2008.9748312
17. Martens, A., Petzold, F., Mayer, J. (2012): Die Verbreitung der an Libellen parasitierenden Gnitze Forcipomyia paludis in Deutschland (Odonata, Diptera: Ceratopogonidae). Libellula 31(1/2): 15-24.
18. Naraoka, H. (1999): On the Forcipomyia (Pterobosca) tokunagai Oka and Asahina (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae). Journal of the Natural History of Aomori 4: 17-21.
19. Nielsen, E.R., Manger, R., Martens, A. (2014): First records of Forcipomyia paludis (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae), a midge parasitising dragonfly adults (Odonata: Libellulidae), for the Balearic Islands, Spain. Notulae odonatologicae 8(4): 83-85.
20. Remm, H. (1988): Family Ceratopogonidae. pp. 11-110. In: Soos, A., Papp, L. (eds.), Catalogue of Palaearctic Diptera, Volume 3, Akadémiai Kiadó, Budapest.
21. Turgut, F., Kılıç, A.Y. (2015): The Ceratopogonidae (Insecta: Diptera) fauna of the Central Black Sea Region in Turkey. Turkish Journal of Zoology 39(6): 1071-1089.
https://doi.org/10.3906/zoo-1410-33
22. TÜBİVES (2011): Turkish Plant Data Service (TÜBİVES), Version 2.0 Beta.
http://www.tubives.com/ accessed 11.03.2024.
23. Uruşak, E.A., Özhatay, F.N., Güler, N., Ersoy, H., Başak, N., Yeşil, Y., Oral, D., Demirci, S. (2013): The flora of Yıldız Mountains (Kırklareli) Biosphere Project area. Turkish Journal of Botany 37(2): 225-269.
https://doi.org/10.3906/bot-1111-5
24. Vinko, D., Kulijer, D., Billqvist, M., Martens, A. (2017): The biting midge Forcipomyia paludis (Macfie, 1936) (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) in Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and Sweden. Natura Sloveniae 19(1): 5-21.
https://doi.org/10.14720/ns.19.1.5-21
25. Wasscher, M., de Vries, R., Dijkshoorn, D., Kloen, J-F. (2021a): Co-occurrence of the dragonfly biting midge Forcipomyia paludis and the Great fen-sedge Cladium mariscus in Europe. Libellula 40(1/2): 1-17.
26. Wasscher, M., Dijkshoorn, D., de Vries, R., Kloen, J.-F. (2021b): Bestaat er een verband tussen het Libellenknutje (Forcipomyia paludis) en Galigaan (Cladium mariscus) in Nederland en België? Brachytron 22(1): 13-25.
27. Wildermuth, H. (2012): Die Verbreitung der an Libellen (Odonata) parasitierenden Gnitze Forcipomyia paludis (Macfie, 1936) in der Schweiz (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae). Entomo Helvetica 5: 71-83.
https://doi.org/10.5169/seals-986123
28. Wildermuth, H. (2021): Die Libellengnitze Forcipomyia paludis - eine kurze Entdeckungsgeschichte. Libellennachrichten 46: 6-11.
29. Wildermuth, H., Martens, A. (2007): The feeding action of Forcipomyia paludis (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae), a parasite of Odonata imagines. International Journal of Odonatology 10: 249-255.
https://doi.org/10.1080/13887890.2007.9748302
30. Wildermuth, H., Schröter, A., Kohl, S. (2019): The West Palearctic biting midge Forcipomyia paludis (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae): first evidence as a parasite on Odonata wings from the Caucasus ecoregion. Notulae odonatologicae 9(4): 158-163.
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.3539756
31. Wirth, W.W., Marston, N. (1968): A method for mounting small insects on microscope slide in Canada Balsam. Annals of the Entomological Society of America 61(3): 783-784.
https://doi.org/10.1093/aesa/61.3.783