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 Smile and Say Cheese for the Group Portrait
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| Stephen |
Posted on 03-09-2006 13:32
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 Member Location: Posts: 1322 Joined: 12.04.05 |
There were many many flies on this section of lake shore and I suspect a fisherman had cleaned his fish here. Maybe not enough detail to say for certain, but maybe two species of Calliphoridae and one Muscid? --Stephen Stephen Cresswell www.americaninsects.net |
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| Zeegers |
Posted on 03-09-2006 14:38
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Member Location: Posts: 18446 Joined: 21.07.04 |
Well, I agree with Calliphoridae and Muscidae. The Calliphoridae seem to be 1 male and 2 females of Lucilia, they could very well represent the same species. The Muscidae would be something like Morellia, but remember this is the Old World speaking ! Theo Zeegers |
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| Stephen |
Posted on 03-09-2006 17:06
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Member Location: Posts: 1322 Joined: 12.04.05 |
Thanks, Theo! We in the New World do share Morellia with you. According to nearctica.com we have three species, M. micans, M. podagrica, and M. scapulata. On the Calliphorids, the male looking more robust I had thought it might be a different species for that reason. Another thing I wondered about is that the two females are holding their wings differently from the male, but perhaps that is not an important thing? Thanks again for your help. --Stephen Stephen Cresswell www.americaninsects.net |
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| Tony Irwin |
Posted on 03-09-2006 22:32
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 Member Location: Posts: 7168 Joined: 19.11.04 |
I hesitate to disagree with Theo (experience tells me this is not a good idea!  ), but I don't think the females are Lucilia. They're certainly not the same species as the male - much smaller scutellum, and a different bend in vein M (just visible on the upper fly). They may even be muscids - something close to Dasyphora. The angle at which they hold the wings is not always a good character, but it is a clue. In both Muscidae and Calliphoridae there are genera which tend to hold the wings out, and those which tend to overlap them.I agree about the Morellia. Tony ---------- Tony Irwin |
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| Stephen |
Posted on 04-09-2006 10:26
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Member Location: Posts: 1322 Joined: 12.04.05 |
Ah well the problem with this kind of group shot is that you don't get as many details for identification as you would when zooming in on a single fly. Thank-you Tony and Theo for the comments. I am slowly learning what characters to look for! Question: Is it generally safe in Muscidae and Calliphoridae to say that the flies with the eyes touching up above are males, and if the eyes are well-separated they are females? I have never been clear on which families (if any) this rule is true for. Edited by Stephen on 04-09-2006 10:29 --Stephen Stephen Cresswell www.americaninsects.net |
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| Zeegers |
Posted on 04-09-2006 12:07
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Member Location: Posts: 18446 Joined: 21.07.04 |
Well, Tony, in case on non-Tachinidae your judgement is easily superior to mind. Like in this case Theo |
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| Xespok |
Posted on 04-09-2006 14:36
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 Member Location: Posts: 5550 Joined: 02.03.05 |
THe larger species could be a Lucilia the smaller species a Phormia. But do not consider these IDs anywhere near sure. |
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