Diptera.info

Posted by AndrewC on 22-08-2009 17:19

So I'm pretty sure it is a Calliphorid (edit) (calypters well developed, arista plumose) and female (eyes separate) but what else do I need to be sure that this is Lucilia caesar or is it something else ? Is the red ring at the base of the 3rd antenna segment significant ? What about the colouration around the base of the setae between the eyes at the top of its head (orbital bristles ?) ? The eyes were much brighter red when fresh.

Specimen collected in Cape Cod, Eastern America.

Edited by AndrewC on 22-08-2009 22:54

Posted by Tony T on 22-08-2009 22:01

AndrewC wrote:
So I'm pretty sure it is a Muscidae (calypters well developed, arista plumose) and female (eyes separate) but what else do I need

Not a Muscid but a Calliphorid.
You need "Whitworth, T. 2006. Keys to the genera and species of Blow Flies of America" Proc Entomol Soc. Wash 108:9-725.
Can be downloaded, but I don't have the URL at present.

Posted by AndrewC on 22-08-2009 22:40

Tony T wrote:

AndrewC wrote:
So I'm pretty sure it is a Muscidae (calypters well developed, arista plumose) and female (eyes separate) but what else do I need

Thanks, I'll follow that up and see where it leads me :)

Posted by AndrewC on 23-08-2009 14:34

Apparently a Lucilia sericata according to Dr Whitworth.

Perhaps not the best photo (middle leg separated at top of femur when I was trying to reposition it) but is this the meron and setae used to distinguish between Calliphorids and Muscids ?