Thread subject: Diptera.info :: A Diptera I cannot place in a family
#1
It has been suggested that this is a Heleomyzidae (based on venation), but the tibiae are too bristly to comply.
It has the wrong venation for Muscidae, and Fanniidae (on the basis of the anal veins).
It has been suggested it looks something like Pegomya bicolor (Anthomyiidae), and indeed it does. The venation on that is very similar, but not identical. In addition, the costa does not have any but the smallest spines, indicating that it might not even be an Anthomyiidae. I think the images showing small spines shows it is not a matter of insufficient resolution.
This fly looks quite distinctive, but I cannot even place it in a family! Does anyone know the answer?
#2
The legs with long spines
#3
A very much lightened image of the head and thorax. Not a good focus, but the best I have.
#4
A rear view of the fly.
#5
My best shot of the side of the head (which is a bit better than nothing!)
#6
Mycophaga testacea may be another possibility.
You're best placed to judge, but it looks to me like it has a complete thoracic suture, which would support it being a calypterate, and as the anal vein reaches the wing margin, Scathophagidae and Anthomyiidae are the obvious contenders. Try running it through Mike's key to anthomyiid genera, and see what happens?
#7
Based on the whitisch hairs on the lower backside of the head, black tips of femora, bristles on legs, black hind corner of tergite 1 ... I'm tending to an immature female of Scathophaga inquinata.
Regards
Xylo
#8
I'm happy with that.
#9
Thsnks very mcuh, Xylo (and Tony). That seems to fit, from what I can see.
I have just looked at the British Scathophagidae web site, and a quote from the page on identifying the family in general is as follows:
"It can be quite tricky to decide when you are dealing with a Scathophagid since, in most keys, this family drops out at the end of the key to Calyptrate families if it is not a Muscid, Fanniid or Anthomyiid. They tend to be distinguished by the lack of features that characterise these families, rather than by anything very definite that is unique to the Scathophagidae. In general appearance they can easily be confused with Anthomyiidae and....."
That's about it! But it would have been better if I had got proper images of the head, so it was a bit more obvious it was a Scathophagidae.
Nigel.