Thread subject: Diptera.info :: Platystomatidae key
Posted by
Andrius on 15-12-2006 19:38
#1
I've came into several problems while dealing with Platystomatidae. Firstly, is there a key for Palearctic species of this family? And secondly, Fauna Europaea gives
Platystoma seminatione (Fabricius 1775) with six subspecies while most of other online catalogs give
Platystoma seminationis (Fabricius, 1775) - which of those is correct?
Thank you for any suggestions
#2
I'm no Latin scholar, but I suspect that
seminationis is a noun (derived from the verb
seminatio) in the genitive case. As a noun in apposition, it should retain its original spelling. If it is an adjective, then the ending should be changed to match the gender of the genus, which is indeed neutral (
stoma being a Greek word of neuter gender). Despite a couple of hours searching, I cannot find out whether
seminationis is a noun or an adjective.
Anyone got a very big Latin dictionary?
#3
seminationis is a noun. It is a genitive of
seminatio--- it means "of reproduction" (or something like that)
. I'm curious about the meaning of
Platystoma... because I didn?t find in dictionary.
Today I found lots of flies, some are new...
and i found very probably this fly -> Platystoma cf. seminationis above
Olea europaea's trunk.
your new avatar.
ehehe
#4
jorgemotalmeida wrote:
seminationis is a noun. It is a genitive of
seminatio--- it means "of reproduction" (or something like that)
. I'm curious about the meaning of
Platystoma... because I didn?t find in dictionary.
your new avatar.
ehehe
I think "Platy" refers to broad or flat and "stoma" to mouth, so
Platystoma means "broad-mouth".
The new "face" is the posterior end of a
Tipula larva. Having taken the photos, I couldn't resist cropping one for a new avatar - this is exactly what it was like - no Photoshop alterations!
#5
tipulidae larvae! Where did you find it?
#6
Under some stones in my garden - they are very common pests here.
#7
Andrius,
Welcome to the World of Platystomatidae, where there are many taxonomic problems. Hennig, W. 1945. Platystomidae. Die fliegen der Palaearktischen Region:
48: 1 - 56. is your best bet, although not ideal in some respects.
Platystoma seminationis (Fabricius, 1775) is correct.
I'm intrigued - what do have? Are there many specimens and is there a need for a revised key to the European species? I have been focusing on the tropical fauna, because there is so much more work required there.