Diptera.info

Posted by Stephen on 30-09-2006 15:39

This little fly was on the lid of our compost bin. It is a good place to look for flies because of all the irrestible odors.

Length 6.5 mm from the front of the face to the rear of the wings.

What family?

Posted by Stephen on 30-09-2006 15:41

Second image. The fly had a clump of pollen (or something) stuck to his front tarsus.

Posted by Stephen on 30-09-2006 17:15

Yes, perhaps Drosophilidae. Looking at some photos just now I also wondered about Lauxaniidae. The eyes especially look similar.

Posted by Paul Beuk on 30-09-2006 19:21

No, this certainly is Drosophila. In the Nearctis are several species I do not know and abslolutely could not identify from pictures only. It could be a species related to D. virilis but not to obscura and its relatives: There are no 'sex-combs' (comb-like rows of spines) on the fore taris of this male.

Posted by Stephen on 30-09-2006 22:55

Jan, Paul, Thank-you! This one is darker than the other Drosophilids I have seen around here and maybe that should be my excuse for not recognizing the family.

I am glad to know now not only the family but the genus.

Sex combs? That sounded intriguing but I went through all my Drosophilid photos and didn't see anything that looked like that. I will be watching for them, though!

One more question: Is there any obvious way to distinguish a member of Drosophila from the other genera of Drosophilidae?

Edited by Stephen on 30-09-2006 22:58

Posted by Kahis on 01-10-2006 09:24

Stephen wrote:One more question: Is there any obvious way to distinguish a member of Drosophila from the other genera of Drosophilidae?

Not really, unfortunately.