Thread subject: Diptera.info :: Scuttle fly to ID: Pseudacteon?
Posted by Rui Andrade on 03-10-2010 23:24
#1
On the last 19th of September I was serching for some ants to feed vermileonid larvae when I saw some tiny phorids hovering over the Lasius ants and seemingly attacking them once in a while. I'm wondering if these phorids could be the famous "Ant decapitating flies" of the genus Pseudacteon. I hope so:D
I also did some crap movies of this behaviour.
location: Estarreja, Portugal
Posted by Rui Andrade on 03-10-2010 23:25
#2
.
Posted by Rui Andrade on 03-10-2010 23:26
#3
.
Posted by rvanderweele on 04-10-2010 07:19
#6
I see you killed some of these phorids. If it will be impossible to find somebody to tell the id,if you like, you can send me a specimen. I will try to determine them then. I have some literature.
I've got to say that Phoridae is not an easy family.
I like to film. I often have to realize how great this medium Internet is!
Posted by Paul Beuk on 04-10-2010 10:34
#7
It is
Pseudacteon.
Posted by phil withers on 04-10-2010 15:37
#8
Disney & Withers (Fragmenta Faunistica 52, 2009) should be your fist stop in determining: they will need slide-mounting though !
Posted by Rui Andrade on 05-10-2010 00:48
#9
Thank you Paul!
Ok Ruud, I'll send them to you.
Phil, can you send me a copy of the article?
Posted by rvanderweele on 06-11-2010 16:55
#10
Well, my wife always says the same thing to me as my mother always did:"why can't you wait with it, until you have really time!'. So, today I received the specimens from Rui and instead of waiting for a quiet Sunday afternoon, I have to look at it just after shopping and before preparing dinner.
Any way, using Disney's key from 2000 I arrive quite easily at P. formicarum! Why? Well, the second tibiae have definitely no palisade as it has on the third ones. I will look at the other details tomorrow,but, Phil, don't you think that this is a clear characteristic? I think also the occurrence in Portugal is not problematic.
BTW, if possible, please, send me a copy of the article you mentioned. I will be very grateful.
Posted by phil withers on 06-11-2010 19:25
#11
The absence of a hair palisade on the mid tibia is diagnostic of formicarum. Annoyingly, I made two photocopies today of the only offprint I have...befoe this request ! Back to the copier Monday then...PMs from Ruud and Rui re addresses will ensure copies sent out !
Posted by Rui Andrade on 06-11-2010 20:26
#12
Great! Thank you for your quickness Ruud:) According to the Diptera catalogue of Iberia that I have this would be new to the Iberian Peninsula:D
Posted by rvanderweele on 06-11-2010 20:41
#13
In fact, I never saw this genus in nature! I will pay some attention, for sure. I have serious plan to go collecting for a week in the Emirates beginning next year. Perhaps interesting to pay there as well attention to the Phorids. I can imagine that few species have been collected there.
Posted by Rui Andrade on 06-11-2010 21:35
#14
Maybe the agitation of the ants caused by me triggered an attack by the phorids. From now on I'll pay more attention to Lasius nests and deliberately cause confusion, and hopefully attract the phorids' attention.:)
Posted by rvanderweele on 06-11-2010 21:54
#15
Interesting! I certainly will pay attention to it the coming year.