Acta Zoologica Cracoviensia, 35(1) 1992

Issue:

VOL 35(1) 1992

Keywords:

Tipulidae, Tipula crolina nom. nov., alpine, Swiss Alps, brachypterism, endemic

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High altitude Tipulidae in Switzerland (Diptera, Nematocera)

• Christophe DUFOUR

Abstract:

An overview is given of 21 species of the alpine and subalpine Tipulidae fauna. Thermic levels based on plant phenology arc used to classify the species. The sequence obtained is followed to discuss systematics, morphological adaptations (melanism, brachypterism, dense body clothing, small size), habitat selection (coniferous forest, shrub zone, alpine meadow, streams or other wet biotopes, bedrock or loose rock-screes, moraine, avalanche) and biogeography (distribution patterns including boreo-alpine). Alpine species are mostly alpine endemics, rarely distributed in other Central European mountains, missing in Scandinavia or represented there by subspecies or morphologically distinct populations. Many subalpine species show on the contrary large distributions including boreo-alpine and three are represented by subspecies in Southern Europe. A Siberian origin of some subalpine and upper montane species is discussed.