Diptera.info :: Identification queries :: Diptera (adults)
 Struggle with a Tachydromia
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| John Bratton |
Posted on 28-10-2008 17:14
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Member Location: Menai Bridge, North Wales, UK Posts: 670 Joined: 17.10.06 |
Trying to identify a male Tachydromia using Collin's 1961 Empididae, I got to T. stigmatella, but the palps on mine have a distinct terminal bristle and Collin says this species doesn't. Can anyone suggest what others have a very long third antennal segment and black arista, please? It was swept from limestone grassland (Great Orme, N. Wales) in September. Other characters that match Collin's description of stigmatella are: Thorax shining black. Frons shining. Pleurae with grey pilosity, except mesopleurae and sternopleurae are shining black. Acrostichals uniserial (unless they are two rows very very close together). Abdomen shining black with grey pubescence (though not noticeably denser on 4th and 5th tergites). Legs reddish (Collin says yellow) with darker patch on top of the middle of the middle femora. Middle femora stout with two rows of short black bristles beneath (and longitudinal row of three longer finer hairs/bristles on my specimen). Hind femora slender. What are the ungues, please? Collin says these should be short and conspicuously black. Thanks in anticipation, John Bratton |
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| Paul Beuk |
Posted on 28-10-2008 19:50
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 Super Administrator Location: Netherlands Posts: 19403 Joined: 11.05.04 |
I cannot give a simple answer. After 1961 there have been quite a few changes, among other that the gnus is now called Platypalpus. It would be helpfull to have one or more images... Paul - - - - Paul Beuk on https://diptera.info |
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| John Bratton |
Posted on 29-10-2008 12:27
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Member Location: Menai Bridge, North Wales, UK Posts: 670 Joined: 17.10.06 |
Thanks. I don't think my camera can do the job, though. John |
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| Adrian |
Posted on 29-10-2008 13:09
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Member Location: Posts: 69 Joined: 05.01.07 |
If you are a member of the Dipterits Form check out their web site. I placed a provisional key to the British species there. It includes all the (many) additions to the UK fauna since Collin. Re photo's:- you're wasting your time trying to det many Tachydromia from a photo. Cheers Adrian |
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| Paul Beuk |
Posted on 29-10-2008 14:00
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Super Administrator Location: Netherlands Posts: 19403 Joined: 11.05.04 |
Well, it is interesting to know which genus we are really talking about. Is it Tachydromia sensu Collin (= Platypalpus) or is it Tachydromia in its present sense?
Paul - - - - Paul Beuk on https://diptera.info |
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| John Bratton |
Posted on 31-10-2008 18:20
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Member Location: Menai Bridge, North Wales, UK Posts: 670 Joined: 17.10.06 |
Thanks for pointing me to the key. As it is to the 15 British species of Tachydromia in the present sense, how do I tell if mine is one of these or a Platypalpus, pleae? Do the Platypalpus come out in a block in Collin's key? John |
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| Paul Beuk |
Posted on 31-10-2008 20:24
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Super Administrator Location: Netherlands Posts: 19403 Joined: 11.05.04 |
Has your fly bands on the wing, are they infuscate or are they clear?
Paul - - - - Paul Beuk on https://diptera.info |
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| John Bratton |
Posted on 04-11-2008 14:53
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Member Location: Menai Bridge, North Wales, UK Posts: 670 Joined: 17.10.06 |
The wings are entirely clear. Attached is a sketch of the 3rd antennal segment and arista, both black. I thought the length of the segment would narrow down the possible species. This is probably getting tedious for the rest of the readers. Shall we continue by e-mail? Thanks, John John Bratton attached the following image:  [13.52Kb] |
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| Paul Beuk |
Posted on 04-11-2008 14:55
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Super Administrator Location: Netherlands Posts: 19403 Joined: 11.05.04 |
That's Platypalpus. To be certain about the ID I think it will be necessary that someone has a look at it with some recent literature. Perhaps Adrian can do that?
Paul - - - - Paul Beuk on https://diptera.info |
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| John Bratton |
Posted on 04-11-2008 15:13
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Member Location: Menai Bridge, North Wales, UK Posts: 670 Joined: 17.10.06 |
Thanks. I'll hang on to it until I'm visiting an expert. John |
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