Diptera.info :: Identification queries :: Diptera (adults)
 Unknown Calliphoridae?
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| Jeroen K |
Posted on 11-04-2009 16:04
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Member Location: Kapellen, Belgium Posts: 1141 Joined: 03.04.09 |
A while back, I bought some third-instar fly maggots in a fishing shop. I reared them on decomposing flesh until they pupated and emerged and now I would like to identificate the adults. Unfortunately, I have very little experience in identificating flies, so I hope that you can help me. According to the wing venation and the general appearance, I'm pretty sure that it's a member of the Calliphoridae, but I would be very pleased with an identification to species level. I'm quite a bad photographer, so the attached photographs aren't of a high quality, but I still have some specimens, so when you need any additional information, please ask and I will observe them. EDIT: The attached photographs don't appear. I'll try to figure out what is wrong. Edited by Jeroen K on 11-04-2009 16:07 |
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| Jeroen K |
Posted on 11-04-2009 16:42
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Member Location: Kapellen, Belgium Posts: 1141 Joined: 03.04.09 |
Here they are. As I said, the quality is bad, but maybe the close-up of the wing will do it. 
Edited by Jeroen K on 11-04-2009 16:43 |
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| Zeegers |
Posted on 11-04-2009 19:41
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Member Location: Soest, NL Posts: 19299 Joined: 21.07.04 |
It seems to be Calliphora. We really need a better picture to say more. Theo |
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| Jeroen K |
Posted on 11-04-2009 21:32
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Member Location: Kapellen, Belgium Posts: 1141 Joined: 03.04.09 |
Thanks for your reply. Here are some more pictures of a slightly better quality. If you need any more identification characteristics, maybe you can tell me where I have to look for and I will check them myself.  |
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| Tony Irwin |
Posted on 12-04-2009 01:01
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 Member Location: Norwich, England Posts: 7344 Joined: 19.11.04 |
Calliphora, could be vomitoria - a well-lit side view of the head would help.
Tony ---------- Tony Irwin |
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| Jeroen K |
Posted on 12-04-2009 12:02
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Member Location: Kapellen, Belgium Posts: 1141 Joined: 03.04.09 |
Thank you very much for your answer. Here are some side views. How can you tell it's a Calliphora?   
Edited by Jeroen K on 12-04-2009 12:06 |
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| Tony Irwin |
Posted on 12-04-2009 14:05
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Member Location: Norwich, England Posts: 7344 Joined: 19.11.04 |
Yes, it is vomitoria (extensive red hairs on cheeks). It's Calliphora from the wing venation, metallic blue abdomen, grey-striped thorax and general shape and appearance (there are other definitive characters, but they're not visible in your photos. Edited by Tony Irwin on 12-04-2009 14:08 Tony ---------- Tony Irwin |
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| Jeroen K |
Posted on 12-04-2009 14:27
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Member Location: Kapellen, Belgium Posts: 1141 Joined: 03.04.09 |
Thank you, you have helped me a lot. Would you mind answering some more general questions. I would like to know what general wing venation pattern of the genus Calliphora does look like (what are the characteristic veins). Further, I have heard that you can distinguish Calliphora vomitoria from C. vicina by the bright orange cheeks of the last one, but C. vomitoria also has orange-red hairs on its cheeks. What's the best way to distiguish both species? |
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| Tony Irwin |
Posted on 12-04-2009 18:56
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Member Location: Norwich, England Posts: 7344 Joined: 19.11.04 |
The wing of Calliphora is typical of many calypterates. Some of the veins are named in this thread - http://www.dipter...ad_id=8574. The important thing is the bend in vein M - in most muscids and anthomyiids vein M is straight, without a bend. In most calliphorids, sarcophagids and tachinids, vein M has a bend which can be very sharp or more rounded and may or may not have an appendix. Your photos show the typical venation for Calliphora, but there are other genera that look very like this too. Distinguishing vicina and vomitoria is fairly easy - vomitoria has dark grey cheeks with red hairs, vicina has orange-red cheeks with black hairs (but there are other species like this too!) If you use the search facilty to look through some of the previous threads about Calliphora, you will find lots of helpful pictures and plenty of advice about separating the species. Edited by Tony Irwin on 12-04-2009 18:57 Tony ---------- Tony Irwin |
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| Jeroen K |
Posted on 12-04-2009 20:28
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Member Location: Kapellen, Belgium Posts: 1141 Joined: 03.04.09 |
I have to thank you once more. Your information was very helpful. |
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