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I am trying to find a little more about Minettia desmometopa, literature on this species seems to be very sparse. there are a couples of lines on it in Shatalkin 2000, but that about all I can find. I am looking for species description, distribution, and habitat (coastal?)


Does any forum member know of any papers on this species, or have any personal notes or records?

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A general note: It resembles Minettia lupulina but the abdomen is less yellow but more brownish; the black on the hind margin of the scutellum does not extend onto the dorsal surface of the scutellum, the grey on the thorax is not as silvery, and it is marginally bigger. I have collected it in the UK near the coast (sweeping Sea buckthorn and other shrubs) but I am not aware of the exact distribution in the UK. Perhaps Stephen Falk can tell you more.

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Thank you Paul

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It's coastal here in Finland too, and found on sandy shores (medium to coarse sand seems to be preferred). I have swept some adults from alder bushes backing the shore.

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Thank you Kahis

Finland was not an a location I expected as Shatalkin gives its range as "France, Holland, England", and the habitat info is useful.

Mark

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I sent a photo a few days ago, Paul has identified as M. desmometopa, of my land in Huelva in southern Spain, was at 600 meters above sea level, near a stream, a hundred miles from the sea.