Thread subject: Diptera.info :: Tachinidae (?) from Panama
#1
This picture was taken by a friend of mine in Panama, Chiriqui, Cerro Punta. Size 17mm. Any suggestions are welcome...
#2
A very quick browse through the plates in Wulp's second volume of
Biologia Centrali-Americana which may be seen free at http://www.sil.si.edu/digitalcollections/bca/explore.cfm See Diptera.info Weblinks > Resources produced no result (yet) but your freind may be interested in this excellent
resource. Robert
#3
Thanks Robert - actually, checking the plates of
Biologia Centrali-Americana was the first thing i did
...
Posted by
ChrisR on 05-09-2006 10:08
#4
I've no idea what it is ... but I want one!!
#5
So do I
...
Posted by
crex on 05-09-2006 11:13
#6
Is it Tachinidae or Bombyliidae? The small head, broad abdomen and leather like wings make it (in my newbie eyes) look a bit like a bee fly. I'm not sure Bombyliidae has tha large "feet" though ... I have yet to learn how to interpret what the wing venetaion tells.
Posted by
crex on 05-09-2006 11:30
#7
Perhaps a compromise, something like
Hystricia (=
Bombyliopsis) [
Tachinidae] ... Ok, I'll stop guessing now
Posted by
ChrisR on 05-09-2006 12:49
#8
The wing venation is the key here really. The fly pictured is clearly a calyptrate - wing veins radiate to the edge of the wing with little or no sinuosity and no forks beyond the proximal 1/2. There is a strong bend in vein M and this suggests Tachinidae or Sarcophagidae - my guess, based on the bristles and general 'look' of the fly would be Tachinidae. Bombylidae have many more forked veins on their wings, similar to other larger Brachycera, such as Tabanidae. In general, Brachycera wings seem to have many more veins.
Posted by
Zeegers on 05-09-2006 19:52
#9
I agree
This is 100 % a Calyptratae and actually I have no doubt whatsoever that this is a Tachinid (even though I am completely non-expert where the new world is concerned)
Theo
#10
Thanks to all for your attention
.
#11
Hello everybody,
I have finally received a reply from Dr. D. Monty Wood, so now we can put a generic name on it: a
Scotiptera sp. (Tachinidae). Here's an excerpt from the message:
...this is probably the first record for Panama. I see after reading your letter again that it is from Cerro Punta. I have caught several of them in Costa Rica in the Talamanca Mtns sitting on leaves alongside the stream in the sun spots. Unfortunately the species doesn't yet have a name. There are about 10 species of Scotiptera in Costa Rica in the INBio collection (do you know about this?), but this is the only one with orange wing bases.
Happy New Year to all!