Diptera.info :: Identification queries :: Diptera (adults)
 What's if it's not the Bertea?
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| Thereva |
Posted on 21-07-2011 12:22
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Member Location: Posts: 2 Joined: 23.01.09 |
Hi, in an Italian entomological forum "Forum Entomologi Italiani" it has been posted a photo of a specimen of Diptera Nematocera resting on a wing of Parnassius apollo (Lepidoptera Papilionidae). http://www.entomologiitaliani.net/public/forum/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=24752 The photo unfortunately is not clear enough. The fly is apparently brachypterous and a resemblance with the enigmatic Bertea subaptera Rondani, 1856 has been proposed. Any suggestion on the identity of the fly? |
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| Tony Irwin |
Posted on 21-07-2011 19:53
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 Member Location: Norwich, England Posts: 7329 Joined: 19.11.04 |
The fly is a normal male sciarid as far as I can see. It appears to be brachypterous or apterous because its wings are moving too fast for the camera. They do, however, create two dark clouds in the picture. As for Bertea, I suspect that Rondani's figure actually portrays a parasitic wasp, so it's not surprising that this enimatic fly has not been re-found! 
Edited by Tony Irwin on 21-07-2011 20:08 Tony ---------- Tony Irwin |
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| Hemerobius |
Posted on 24-07-2011 11:05
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Member Location: Posts: 5 Joined: 22.07.11 |
Hi, I'm a Neuropterist with the passion of the historical enigmas in entomology, and Bertea is one of these. Sorry about my invasion of the dipterist realm. Tony, do you really think that Rondani was able to confuse a Diptera with an Hymenoptera? Rondani was a great Dipterist and he described also some Hymenoptera. Moreover the type of Bertea was saw by Mario Bezzi who stated to be a Sciaridae. Perhaps the judgment of Mario Bezzi is reliable. Do you not think? |
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| Tony Irwin |
Posted on 24-07-2011 13:05
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Member Location: Norwich, England Posts: 7329 Joined: 19.11.04 |
Hi Hemerobius Just looking at the drawing, the legs of Bertea appear to me much more like those of a wasp than a sciarid, but the quality of the illustration is really not good enough to be sure. I agree that Rondani and Bezzi should both recognise Diptera, and if the type is ever found, I expect it will turn out to be a brachypterous sciarid, but I don't think it will look much like Rondani's figure. Tony ---------- Tony Irwin |
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| Hemerobius |
Posted on 24-07-2011 15:59
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Member Location: Posts: 5 Joined: 22.07.11 |
You're rights, the Rondani's figure is terrible  !Following Bezzi (1913, Bollettino del Laboratorio di zoologia generale e agraria della R. Scuola superiore d'agricoltura in Portici. vol. 7 cfr p. 236) the type was in the box N° 72 of Rondani's collection by "Specola" Museum in Florence, near Orphnephila devia, Chionea araneoides, Blepharocera limbipennis and Pterelachisus bertei (original names). I hope to find it. |
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| jorgemotalmeida |
Posted on 24-07-2011 16:14
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 Member Location: Viseu - PORTUGAL Posts: 9296 Joined: 05.06.06 |
Welcome, Roberto. A nice surprise to see you here. ps check superegnum flickr for the new neuropter.
Edited by jorgemotalmeida on 24-07-2011 16:15 |
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| Tony Irwin |
Posted on 24-07-2011 18:21
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Member Location: Norwich, England Posts: 7329 Joined: 19.11.04 |
Good luck with your search for the type!  Be sure to let us know if you find it! Tony ---------- Tony Irwin |
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| Hemerobius |
Posted on 27-07-2011 06:30
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Member Location: Posts: 5 Joined: 22.07.11 |
Found ! But  only fragments.Nevertheless the leg appear to belong to a Diptera. Ciao
Hemerobius attached the following image:  [192.86Kb] |
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| jorgemotalmeida |
Posted on 27-07-2011 11:09
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Member Location: Viseu - PORTUGAL Posts: 9296 Joined: 05.06.06 |
this shows that cryopreservation should be choosed as being one of the best way to protect the specimens! I use this method now and it is very good. Also it protects against the light. It seems the specimen was attacked by fungi? (in very low temperatures the specimen would be preserved and without oxidation as well, and avoid larvae attack of Anthrenus!). I do not see even the halteres. Edited by jorgemotalmeida on 27-07-2011 11:33 |
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| Tony Irwin |
Posted on 27-07-2011 11:10
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Member Location: Norwich, England Posts: 7329 Joined: 19.11.04 |
Congratulations! Agreed, Diptera, possibly Sciaridae. (Might have been better if the Anthrenus had finshed it off! )
Tony ---------- Tony Irwin |
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