Diptera.info

Posted by Mark-uk on 15-01-2011 20:20

This distinctive Acalyptratae has been causing me headaches - Even trying to pin it to a family. I have found several of them in mid to late summer in the UK. Either swept in woodland, or found on bracket fungi.

I am sure it will be stupidly obvious when pointed out.

Edited by Mark-uk on 15-01-2011 22:22

Posted by phil withers on 15-01-2011 20:45

Are they all identical ? I would like to see these (especially if any males represented) for my ongoing (possibly never to be completed) revision of Odinia.

Posted by Mark-uk on 15-01-2011 21:06

Many thanks Andrze

I see where I went wrong on the on the Family key now. The incurved lower fronto-obitals are truly microscopic, I can see them now.

10 UK species, all in the genus Odinia. I will have to look out for the UK keys, (Collin 1952 looks a good staring point? - does anyone have a pdf?)

From the gallery, Odinia ornata looks very close. is O. ornata very distinctive. or are many of the other Odinia similar?

Phil:

Both my New Forest specimens (the one in the photo is one) look to both be female. I have others, and will look when I uncover them again.

Mark

Posted by phil withers on 15-01-2011 23:54

Collin is the only UK key: old and unreliable, as well as incomplete. This family is a pain and it looks like the only way in is the male genitalia, but I get frustrated every time I look. Sometimes they all look different and sometimes I think they are all the same ! Neverhteless, I'm plugging away - anything taken on bracket fungi has traditionally been called O. boletina (there's a misnomer for you) but this may not be the only species. There also seem to be at least 3 species with all yellow antennae (not one as Collin states). Now you begin to see the problem...which is compounded by there not being much material about as this is a family rarely encountered.

Posted by Mark-uk on 16-01-2011 14:44

Hi Phil

I will send you a specimen if it helps at all? Just PM me your contact details.

I agree with you about most of Collins Keys for these smaller groups. old and unreliable. Added to which he often refers to features as "larger" or "smaller" then species X. Which is fine if one has access to a large reference collection. but no use when you have just the specimen.

But that said, for all their faults, I find them a good starting point. I paste them into new document, then add the stuff from latter works, my own notes, commented from this forums etc. These "note nooks" become invaluable. My Lauxaniindae notes is getting quite lengthy.

Mark

Edited by Mark-uk on 16-01-2011 14:50