Diptera.info

Posted by tim worfolk on 19-08-2009 09:42

Found this little one in the garden yesterday and it's been puzzling ever since. I think it's a Sarcophagid - no sign of a sub-scutellum - but of course I could be wrong! After looking around a little I suspect it may be one of the Miltogramminae. However I don't have any keys or other literature so would appreciate some help. I have more shots from different angles if needed.

18/8/2009; Devon, England.

Thanks

Tim

Posted by ChrisR on 19-08-2009 10:28

It does look a bit 50/50 sarco/tach but if you say it has no subscutellum then it's certainly a sarco. It doesn't ring any bells but I don't think it is a Miltogramminae - the head isn't quite right. My guess would be that it is one of the smaller genera of Sarcophaginae. I am catching a lot of these this year with the aim of getting to grips with them later in the winter so I can probably help more then ;)

Posted by tim worfolk on 19-08-2009 10:48

My first thought was a small Tachinid (I'd guess it was only about 4mm) and in fact I tried keying it through Belshaw. When it came out as Erycia I really started to doubt (couldn't find any photos to check, but it seemed rather unlikely). When I say no subscutellum I mean I can't see one from the views I got, it may have one. I'm hoping to see it again and will try for a rear end shot. That's when I thought Sarcophagidae but, as I said, I don't have any keys for those.

Tim

Posted by Jan HC Velterop on 20-08-2009 18:11

For identification of UK-Sarcophagidae the best work is still Van Emden 1954, Handbooks X part 4(a). This brings the ID to Sarcophaga (Myorhina) nigriventris male.
Comparing it with my own specimina I find that the color is rather brown and the stripes on the thorax have vague borders.
But the bristles on scutum and midlegs correspond exactly, and also the bristles of frontalia and parafacialia. So I have no other option for the moment. Jan Velterop, Enschede NL.

Edited by Jan HC Velterop on 27-09-2009 14:41

Posted by ChrisR on 20-08-2009 18:32

I have Steve Falk's cut+paste key here, which usually does the job very well. I understand that it is based on Pape & van Emden with quite a few margin notes. For me it comes out to Pierretia, which I guess must be a synonym for Myorhina - a specimen would get us further :)

Posted by tim worfolk on 20-08-2009 19:34

#10

As I understand the checklist Pierretia is a synonym of subgen. Sarcophaga rather than Myorhina. Regarding which one, I don't have either of your references so couldn't possibly comment, thanks anyway though for your input.

Tim

Posted by Jan HC Velterop on 21-08-2009 10:16

#11

Myorhina R.D. 1830 is the subgenus of Sarcophaga for S. nigriventris, see http://www.faunae...?id=142297. This subgenus is reinstated by Pape 1996, based on the identification of M. campestris with S. nigriventris, as mentioned in BDWD. This made Pierretia to a synonym of Myorhina. It is a pity that Fauna Europaea has very little synonyms, what makes finding names very difficult. Jan Velterop, Enschede NL

Edited by Jan HC Velterop on 27-09-2009 14:43

Posted by ChrisR on 21-08-2009 10:44

#12

I agree - it would save a lot of confusion if the existing data on synonyms in the paper-literature were transferred to FE.

To me, sub-genera seem a bit of a waste of time too - they usually just lead to more confusion and "lump" things that look very different in all-encompassing and bloated "genera" :(

Jan: Can you expand on "BDWD"? What is it? :)

Posted by Jan HC Velterop on 27-09-2009 14:48

#13

BDWD = Biological Database of World Diptera, where you can type a name and find the present correct (for that moment) ID. With this database you solve many although not all problems. Jan Velterop