Diptera.info

Posted by robertwhyte on 27-01-2008 00:54

This one (sorry about the bad photo, but it was very small) I thought might be a Platystomatid (Signal) Fly but in viewing the Lauxaniid gallery I can see (to my untrained eye) some similarities to Homoneura sp.

A few of these flies were moving in amongst some citrus in pots in my garden at The Gap, a suburb of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.

It was about 2mm long, settling on leaves, not very fast flier.

Edited by robertwhyte on 27-01-2008 01:01

Posted by Steve Gaimari on 27-01-2008 08:49

sure looks like a lauxaniid, in an unfocused gestaldt kind of way! Probably a species of Homoneura - this kind of wing pattern occurs in this genus in Australia, so that's my best bet.

Posted by robertwhyte on 28-01-2008 08:20

This afternoon after a hot day I got a couple of shots of a couple.

Posted by robertwhyte on 28-01-2008 08:24

Same location as the previous two shots, perhaps a little larger, about 2.5mm on a citrus (orange tree) in Brisbane, Australia.

Posted by Paul Beuk on 28-01-2008 08:32

The first one should be Homoneura, and I would not be surprised if the second one were too. At least I am certain it is a lauxaniid.

Posted by Nosferatumyia on 28-01-2008 19:33

The 2nd looks to be a Lauxania sp., but let us wait for Steve Gaimari.

Posted by Paul Beuk on 28-01-2008 19:51

Our Palearctic Lauxania's all have alongate first flagellomere of the antenna...

Posted by Nosferatumyia on 28-01-2008 22:02

#10

Paul: U r right; furthermore, the costa reaches R4+5...

Posted by Steve Gaimari on 29-01-2008 07:38

#11

yes, the second species (the black one) is also Homoneura. They are really diverse in that neck of the woods! (Australia and Southeast Asia). There are a couple of other genera with all black species, but this one is certainly Homoneura.

Posted by robertwhyte on 29-01-2008 07:49

#12

Thanks everyone, I must admit I thought it a little reckless and irresponsible to post the pic of the black flies here as I really did not guess they might also be lauxaniid! Lucky I was slack, it ended up in the right thread after all.

Thanks again. Just to explain why the photos are so crap, I have posted a pic of myself with camera in the thread for photos of dipterologists. (Which I'm not, but maybe one day...)

Posted by jorgemotalmeida on 29-01-2008 09:39

#13

you are, at least, a curious what is great! And the amateur dipterologist status can fits well. ;) As you see you was right about your family hypothesis for these flies. It means that you know *something* about flies. :) And the gallery is for amateur and curious dipterologists not just the professionals and the big experts. :) all are welcome.

Posted by robertwhyte on 16-08-2008 09:03

#14

This one is a bit larger than the previous ones I posted here, maybe about 3mm body length, it was hovering around a Syzygium in my garden in Brisbane while I was experimenting with a Pansonic Lumix with Raynox magnifier. It landed on my hand so I was able to manoeuvre it into the sun for this pic. I was wondering it also is a Lauxaniid?

Posted by Steve Gaimari on 17-08-2008 08:09

#15

Yup - definitely a lauxaniid. This one is in the genus "Sapromyza" as it is currently (mis)understood for Australia! I may be able to get a species name on it Monday...

Posted by Steve Gaimari on 18-08-2008 19:25

#16

Yup - I thought I could get the species once I had my notes! This is Sapromyza occipitalis Malloch. Couple important characteristics - the paired blackish patches on the occiput, the legs and antennae being dark, unmarked wings, 0+3 dc with anterior seta smallest, etc.
Cheers,
Steve

Posted by robertwhyte on 24-08-2008 08:58

#18

Hi Steve, Another pic from today with a strange hoover apparatus on the front end, of what I take to be the same fly species as above?

Posted by Kahis on 24-08-2008 19:33

#20

Paul Beuk wrote:
This has the appearance of Muscidae.

Tricky little beasts aren't they? It must be the same Sapromyza posted earlier, muscid-like or not.

Posted by robertwhyte on 24-08-2008 21:53

#21

Here's another two views. I noticed the legs weren't as dark as the previous post, I thought perhaps It was a younger animal, it was certainly smaller and the yellow of the thorax appeared brighter, especially to the naked eye.

Posted by Steve Gaimari on 25-08-2008 19:06

#22

You are correct that this one is different. Again "Sapromyza", but this time, it is Sapromyza sciomyzina Schiner. Nice pics! Notice the entirely black frons (in the other - Sapromyza occipitalis - the frons were yellow), the parafacial is silver and the face is black, the thorax is more uniformly orange, the forelegs very dark, the mid and hind femora lighter, etc.

Posted by robertwhyte on 09-11-2008 00:45

#23

Hi Steve, another pic of what I imagine may be Sapromyza sciomyzina Schiner again. This time face on. Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.