Thread subject: Diptera.info :: Loewia sp.?
Posted by ChrisR on 29-05-2011 14:57
#1
I've been having some real problems with some specimens from Armenia & Russia that, to me, look generally like
Loewia but they are much larger (9-11mm) than the
Loewia that I have seen before and I just can't seem to make them work in the keys (Palearctic & Central European). Can anyone work out what they are?
Armenian (Aragatsotn):
Russian (Krasnodar):
Posted by Jaakko on 29-05-2011 21:30
#2
Looks like
Loewia, alright. Some are quite big. Are you using the Mesnil (Lindner) for the Palearctic?
Posted by ChrisR on 29-05-2011 21:32
#3
Well, I have tried Mesnil (assuming it was
Loewia) - I think I got to
Loewia brevifrons ... but it felt like I got there more by luck than good judgement - they never seem to reach
Loewia in the generic keys :D
Edited by ChrisR on 29-05-2011 21:34
Posted by Zeegers on 30-05-2011 19:45
#4
Loewia brevifrons is large and different from 'typical' Loewia. Might be correct.
Did you note the special arrangment of the marginal bristles on the scutellum Should be distinctive.
Theo
Posted by ChrisR on 30-05-2011 20:03
#5
The scutellars are fairly spectacular actually:
- apicals crossed and smallest/finest of the pairs
- straight sub-apicals - slightly longer and stronger than apicals
- 2-3 pairs of laterals - similar in size to the sub-apicals (often uneven numbers on each side)
- 1 basal pair about as long as the apicals (so finer than the laterals)
Does that sound convincing for
Loewia brevifrons? :)
Is
Loewia brevifrons fairly uncommon or something you'd expect from the south-east? It isn't something I have any information on.
Edited by ChrisR on 30-05-2011 20:12