Thread subject: Diptera.info :: Dolichopodidae - possibly Medetera? (Tony Irwin)

Posted by javanerkelens on 25-02-2009 23:27
#1
Found in amber...(sice 2 mm)
Is there more to say...

Joke van ErkelensSmile
Edited by javanerkelens on 26-02-2009 18:58

Posted by Tony Irwin on 25-02-2009 23:50
#2
Dolichopodidae - possibly Medetera?

Posted by javanerkelens on 26-02-2009 19:05
#3
Dolichopodidae - possibly Medetera?


Nice to look at a Dolichopodidae from the time between Paleozoicum / Quatair, .....would like a short holliday back in time to catch, as many flies that i good get.....Grin

Joke van Erkelens
Edited by javanerkelens on 26-02-2009 19:06

Posted by Peter Macdonald on 10-03-2009 14:37
#4
Joke,

Nice pair of fossil flies. As I new biy around here, I hope that I do not tread on toes by offering two pieces of unsolicited advice.

The first is that the polish "as purchased" on small pieces of amber can easily be improved, for example the small scratches which are evident on the surface of your second picture. Ideally, sue 1 micron followed bu 0.05 micron aluminium oixide suspended in water. Use a small piece of felt, such as found in the lining of jewellery boxes. This will give a finish like the top of a new concert grand piano in a very short time. Another way is to use one of the micro abrasive containing tooth polishes, such as "Pearl Drops". Again, use it on a small piece of felt. You will be amased at how much more detail you will be able to see on your fossils.

The other is about photographing small shiny pieces of amber. To avoid reflections of the lights, like in your second picture, use a diffuser between the light and the fossil. For small pieces, I use a 35 mm film cannister (remember film?) with the bottom sliced off. This gives you a small cylinder to slip over the amber. This will kill the refelctions on shiny surfaces - even beetles. The fly which posed at http://www.dipter...d_id=19661 was lit by twin flashguns about 50 mm from an old film cannister.

Once again, I hope that I do not offend with unsolicited advice.

regards,

Peter

Posted by Paul Beuk on 10-03-2009 20:41
#5
This unsollcited advice is welcomed. I have many pieces of amber waiting for me to find time to improve them. Never would have thought of tooth polish...

Posted by Stefan Naglis on 03-10-2009 13:40
#6
On the second picture I can see diverging veins R4+5 and M, and an apical arista, which places it near the genus Achalcus.


Posted by javanerkelens on 03-10-2009 14:19
#7
On the second picture I can see diverging veins R4+5 and M, and an apical arista, which places it near the genus Achalcus


Thanks !

Joke

Posted by Igor Grichanov on 05-10-2009 16:35
#8
Nice pair of fossil flies. As I new biy around here, I hope that I do not tread on toes by offering two pieces of unsolicited advice.

I add two advices more: prepare amber plate as thin as possible and as flat as possible. Otherwise 2 veins may be parallel on one picture (as on your 1st snap) or diverging on another (as on the 2nd one).

Regarding ID, I doubt placement of the inclusion into Doli s.s. Antenna and hypopygium position are typical of Microphoridae. Also face is very broad for Dolis.