Thread subject: Diptera.info :: Small muscid (?) with long bristles

Posted by peterbolson on 19-08-2010 19:20
#1

From my garden. 5mm long. Eyes bare, aristae long plumose.
I can add more photos if they would help.
Peter

Posted by peterbolson on 19-08-2010 19:21
#2

lateral

Posted by Stephane Lebrun on 19-08-2010 19:59
#3

It should be Hebecnema vespertina.

Posted by peterbolson on 20-08-2010 09:06
#4

Thanks Stephane
Apart from the small size and smokey wings is there anything that immediatly tells you it's Hebecnema ? Most of the features in the key seem to be negative ones, although I suppose you can just tell from the 2nd photo that the frons is flat.
Regards
Peter

Edit : I've just noticed that in my key it says that the knob of the halteres should be dark brown to black in H.vespertina

Edited by peterbolson on 20-08-2010 09:18

Posted by Stephane Lebrun on 20-08-2010 19:19
#5

Apart from the small size and smokey wings is there anything that immediatly tells you it's Hebecnema ?

Hello Peter,
I'd add the entirely dark brown lustrous (undusted) body, the lack of "Phaonia bristle", the distinct rows of acrostichals, and indeed the flat frons with proeminent ocelar tubercle.
As always, I can be wrong in identifying from pictures. H. vespertiba has yellow halters and bare eyes. Some old keys invert H. vespertina and H. nigra.

Posted by peterbolson on 20-08-2010 20:27
#6

Thanks Stephane
I've been using the key in Gregor et al "The Muscidae of Central Europe " 2002 where only H.nigricolor has yellow halteres
Peter

Edited by peterbolson on 20-08-2010 20:57