Mouthparts of nectar-feeding Tanyderidae (Insecta: Diptera): lapping and siphoning

Mouthparts of adult Tanyderidae are examined in detail for the first time, with emphasis on scanning electron microscopy. A full set of mouthparts, devoid of conspicuous dentation or serration and showing no differences between sexes, was found in both examined species, Eutanyderus wilsoni Alexander, 1928 and Peringueyomyina barnardi Alexander, 1921. The mouthparts are elongated into a proboscis in E. wilsoni and are short, attached to the tip of a long rostrum, in P. barnardi. In the absence of direct field observations, nectar-feeding is hypothesized for both genera.