Meigen, J.W. 1830. Systematische Beschreibung der bekannten europaischen zweiflugeligen Insekten. Hamm, 6: 280.
Dicranomyia is one of the largest and most widely distributed genera within both the Limoniinae and the Tipuloidea as a whole. The current concept of Dicranomyia as displayed in the world catalog of Oosterbroek (2005) shows 23 subgeneric divisions. This large number of subgeneric divisions were created from the re-classification proposed in this catalog that moved numerous subgenera formally placed under Limonia to subgenera of Dicanomyia. The genus Dicranomyia in this current state does not offer a consistent synapomorphy by which the genus is based, rather this genus is best described as a extensive group of species that shows variation around a common groundplan of wing venation (see D. (Dicranomyia) Fig. 1) and male genetalia (see D. (Dicranomyia) Fig. 2). Further revision will likely see many of these subgenera transfered to other genera or elevated to the generic level.
The subgenus Dicranomyia (Glochina) was synonomized with Dicranomyia (Dicranomyia) by Theischinger (1994), but was retained as a subgenus in the catalog of Oosterbroek (2005). This should be recognized as a questionable group at best and in need of further study to determine its validity. The characteristics of D. (Glochina) are essentially similar to the groundplan of Dicranomyia. The subgenus is defined here by a small dorsal accessory lobe of the gonocoxite. Similar such lobes are present in D. (Dicranomyia) and D. (Melanolimonia). The remaining characteristics of the male genitalia are similar to that of the typical Dicranomyia type. The characteristics of the wing venation are of the typical Dicranomyia type.
The 22 species of Dicranomyia (Glochina) show predominantly widespread distributions that are known to encompass many biogeographic regions. The subgenus is most strongly represented in the Palearctic Region (20 species) and is weakly represented in the Australian/Oceanic (3 species) and Nearctic (1 species) Regions. The Oriental Region is represented by two species that share broad biogeographic ranges that encompass this and other regions, and an additional third species that is limited to the Luzon region of the Philippines.
The larval habits of this subgenus are unknown, however diverse collection records indicate that a variety of larval habitats are likely to be found within this group. Palearctic records tend to be concentrated in mountainous areas while other species such as D. basifusca (Alexander) from the Bonin Islands of Japan are exclusive to beach areas, indicating a possible marine larval habitat (Alexander 1972).
