Thread subject: Diptera.info :: Tanzanian Anthomyiid
#1
Male. Eyes widely separated, crossed interfrontals absent. Underside of scutellum bare. All tibiae with long and fine ventral (or
av to
pv) hairs.
#2
Forgot: S-W Tanzania, 2200-2400 m asl.
#3
So far I have got reply from Verner Michelsen:
I have never seen anything like this fellow. Really interesting finding. In case the lower calypter is linear I would not rule out the possibility of a scathophagid fly. If this is indeed an anthomyiid fly, I am sure that the genitalia will reveal good clues as to its relationships.
#4
All described species of Scathophagidae from Africa are in genus
Scathophaga and have only a single katepisternal bristle. I looked at three of Ackaland's papers on African Anthomyiidae and did not find any matches in
Anthomyia,
Delia, or
Emmesomyia. Dichoptic males are rare. There are at least two species groups of dichoptic Anthomyia elsewhere in the world, with
A. monilis and
A. punctipennis as typical species.
Posted by
Zeegers on 22-01-2022 09:45
#5
I am very far from having any expertise here, but mu gut feeling is screaming SCATHOPHAGIDAE, even at first sight.
Theo
#6
One the one hand, lower calypter is too large for Scathophagid. One the other hand, if it is Scathophagid, it is gen. nov..
Anyway, in Monday I'll show it to Andrey Ozerov, Scathophagid expert.
#7
The fly was examined by Ozerov, after some reflection Andrey told that it is not Scathophagid.
#8
Can you post a picture of sternite 5?
Posted by
Zeegers on 27-01-2022 08:14
#9
It must be a family nov : Scathomyiidae
Theo
#10
Yes, Theo!
Really, so far:
Michelsen doesn't recognize the fly as Anthomyiid;
Ozerov doesn't recognize the fly as Scathophagid;
Vikhrev doesn't recognize the fly as Muscid.
John I will do genitalia and submit it!
Posted by
Zeegers on 27-01-2022 20:10
#11
Unbelievable.
Suspense is killing
Do you have just one male ? DNA an option ?
Theo
#12
I have 2 males.
Let us act with Tanzanian fly as Tanzanian language (swahili) recommends:
pole-pole = slow-slow = to start with examination of genitalia
#13
I made a preliminary photo of postabdomen.
My test: it fits genus Anthomyia
#14
Griffiths (2001): "Constitutive (apomorphic) characters of
Anthomyia (
sensu lato) are found mainly in the structure of the male terminalia. The 5th sternite processes lack strong outer lateral setae (not longer than the setae along their inner margins except in a few species of the
A. pluvialis section), and are more or less vertically oriented distally (with distinctive profile). Synsternite (6 + 7) bears a central, posteriorly directed process (visible in ventral view between the bases of the 5th sternite processes). The inner lobe of the (apically cleft) gonostylus is flattened, and bears a few ventral spines/spinules (strengthened setulae). The distal section of the aedeagus is extensively sclerotized across its dorsal surface (only narrowly membranous ventrally), in most species with a dorsal process at or near its base (or in species lacking this process flared basally, that is with its sclerotization appearing expanded bsally in dorsal view); the acrophallus is represented by a (partly or fully discrete) downcurved preapical sclerite."
He also notes that
Anthomyia is distinguished from
Lasiomma by the dark spots on the parafacial below the antenna bases when viewed from the side. I can't tell if your fly has those dark spots.