Thread subject: Diptera.info :: Stylogaster (was: French Guiana 01)

Posted by ChrisR on 10-02-2009 01:39
#1

I don't seriously expect an identification for this one (just a bit of fun) but it is one of my favourite flies so far in my latest batch of material from FG.

At first I thought it was a phasiine tachinid but it appears to lack any calyptrae a it doesn't have a subscutellum. My current thought is perhaps that it is a conopid of some kind but the abdomen is an odd shape for a conopid. It certainly isn't a bombylid because the venation is wrong for the larger brachycera. It has the most wonderful long, hinged proboscis :)

So, what do you think? :)
Location: Mtn. de Kaw, French Guiana, South America
Date: VIII 2008
Coll: Jean A. Cerda (Malaise trap)
Habitat: primary rainforest

Edited by ChrisR on 11-02-2009 19:46

Posted by ChrisR on 10-02-2009 01:39
#2

dorsal view...

Posted by Paul Beuk on 10-02-2009 08:21
#3

Conopidae: Stylogaster sp.

See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stylogaster

Edited by Paul Beuk on 10-02-2009 08:22

Posted by ChrisR on 10-02-2009 10:54
#4

Thanks Paul - fascinating - I really didn't think we would get a genus for this fly :) Next I wonder who can identify these to species?! :D

Posted by Tony Irwin on 10-02-2009 22:25
#5

I think Ken Smith used to work on these at the BM, so hopefully the collections there can help.

Posted by jorgemotalmeida on 11-02-2009 02:33
#6

Spectacular Stylogaster!

Posted by ChrisR on 11-02-2009 11:24
#7

I did a bit of Googling and found that Dr. Sidney Camras seems to be working on them so I will try to get in touch and see if they are interesting ... watch this space! ;)