Thread subject: Diptera.info :: Micropezidae ?

Posted by Stephen on 24-09-2006 12:07
#1
I never saw a fly that looked like this one before. Is it in the family Micropezidae?

Length, 4.25 mm. On a squash plant in an open area, with grass and grass clippings nearby. Not far from woodlands. West Virginia USA. Photographed on 22 September 2006.

Posted by Stephen on 24-09-2006 12:09
#2
Fly face

Posted by Stephen on 26-09-2006 00:19
#3
Ach, no one has commented on this interesting fly. It doesn't have the decorated front legs that many Micropezids have (here in Nearctica anyway). If not Micropezid than maybe a closely related family?

I took quite a few photos of this fly but unfortunately none are lateral views.

Posted by Paul Beuk on 26-09-2006 07:13
#4
I am more inclined to go into the direction on Anthomyzidae. Are the wings marked?

Posted by Stephen on 26-09-2006 09:55
#5
The wings have a wide dark stripe at center. They are clear and unmarked along the left and right edges. No spots, just the wide black stripe along the center, running from front to back.

I'm posting another photo that shows the wing coloration better. Glare from the flash is still a problem, but this one is better than the first one I posted, for seeing the wing.
Edited by Stephen on 26-09-2006 09:59

Posted by Jan Willem on 26-09-2006 13:08
#6
Jindrich Rohacek was kind enough to have a look at the images and sent the following comment:

These images belong to a species of the Nearctic anthomyzid genus Ischnomyia Loew, 1863, viz to Ischnomyia albicosta (Walker, 1849). The other nearctic species, I. spinosa Hendel, 1911, has shorter and differently coloured head and completely dark notum (without paler stripes).


So Paul was rightSmile.

Jan Willem

Posted by Stephen on 26-09-2006 14:37
#7
Ah, Thank-you so much Paul, Jan, and Jindrich! This is a much more precise ID than I had hoped for. Very nice!