Thread subject: Diptera.info :: Conopidae from Thailand
Posted by EBM on 15-01-2011 19:16
#1
A friend of mine, Hans Funk, living at Ma Fuang near Udonthani, NE Thailand, found a caterpillar of a Limacodidae moth and tried to rear it. After normal pupation of the caterpillar he expected a nice moth, but to his utter disappointment a fly emerged instead, which I think is a member of the Conopidae family. Would it be possible to identify this fly, at least the genus?
I would appreaciate any help very much. Thanks.
Erwin
Edited by EBM on 15-01-2011 21:41
Posted by EBM on 15-01-2011 19:18
#2
and here a lateral view of the same specimen
Erwin
Posted by Lukasz Mielczarek on 15-01-2011 20:06
#3
Bombyliidae. It may be
Systropus or something close.
Posted by Paul Beuk on 15-01-2011 20:08
#4
Based on what I can see from the wing venation I'd say this is indeed Bombyliidae!
Posted by rvanderweele on 15-01-2011 20:14
#5
Paul, I noticed your "!". When looking at the photo I was really surprised: it looks like a Conopidae, but I had no idea which genus!
I will appreciate a key for the Asian genera.
BTW, what a fantastic animal!!!
Posted by EBM on 16-01-2011 10:12
#6
Well, after learning here that it is not a Conopidae, but a Bombyliidae -which came to me as a big surprise- I asked a specialist for that family, Neal Evenhuis of the Bishop Museum, Hawaii.
He identified the fly as Systropus polistoides Westwood. This fly is well known as a parasitoid of Limacodidae caterpillars...
Erwin