Thread subject: Diptera.info :: Ephydridae (?) from 16.10.11 --> Nostima picta

Posted by Juergen Peters on 17-10-2011 17:54
#1

Hello!

An only 1.5 mm sized fly from our housewall yesterday (northwest Germany). It resembles the well known Philygria picta (is that also genus Nostima now?), but the head and thorax stripes are nearly missing.

Edited by Juergen Peters on 20-10-2011 15:53

Posted by Tony Irwin on 20-10-2011 10:31
#2

Yes, it is Nostima picta. The stripes are variable in that they are often not fully developed in freshly-emerged specimens and they can be worn off in old specimens.
Nostima is variously regarded as a valid genus, closely related to Philygria; or is a subgenus of Philygria; or is a synonym of Philygria. Hollmann-Schirrmacher produced evidence that Philygria could not be retained as a discrete genus, separate from Nostima, but his arguments were not accepted by everyone. Hence the confusion.

Posted by Juergen Peters on 20-10-2011 15:52
#3

Hello, Tony!

Many thanks for your iD and the explanations!