Diptera.info

Posted by Will van Niekerk on 16-01-2012 20:59

I'm skipping the pre-amble about how I'm probably miles off with this diagnosis, (if you really need a re-hashing, check every previous thread for an alternate version). It having been pointed out that although my last "call it a tachinid" is quite possibly a tachinid, it is unlikely to be further identified without more detailed examination(which would be difficult, as the fly did not like the flash and flew away a few photographs later), I am moving on to flies whose more distinctive colouring offers me more hope that they may be identifiable: this one, which I am calling the "go faster fly" in the absence of any real taxonomic clue as to what it is, seemed just as interested in examining me as I was in photographing it.

Location: semi-cultured grassland, Chongwe District, Lusaka, Zambia.
Date: 26-08-2011 (around midday)
Size - not more than 8mm

EDIT: Image too large, one minute;

Edited by Will van Niekerk on 07-02-2012 22:31

Posted by ChrisR on 16-01-2012 21:09

Looks very interesting - do you have any more angles? To be honest, I can't say for sure whether it is a tachinid, rhinophorid of sarcophagid :) I'm guessing we'll never know unless you can get a specimen.

Edited by ChrisR on 16-01-2012 21:09

Posted by Will van Niekerk on 16-01-2012 21:22

I have two other pictures of the little fellow (fellowess?) - but didn't see another like it over the three months I was in the area/region/country/continent, and didn't find any drowned in the pool, so I can't currently (or within the near future) offer a specimen. Sorry.

Posted by Will van Niekerk on 16-01-2012 21:25

Second of the two other angles (and the lowest quality, sorry) view from the front.

Sorry not to have more.

Posted by Liekele Sijstermans on 23-01-2012 00:43

Dolichotachina spec (Sarcophagidae, Miltogramminae)

Liekele

Posted by jorgemotalmeida on 23-01-2012 14:05

For the gallery, please.
And, if possible, please begin to collect these fantastic flies.

Posted by ChrisR on 23-01-2012 15:24

Yes, very interesting fly :)

Posted by Will van Niekerk on 26-01-2012 10:19

Thanks, Liekele!

Sorry for delayed response, I thought I had all my threads tracked but this one got away... Uploading to gallery as soon as I have updated the title.

Posted by Paul Beuk on 07-02-2012 11:43

Identfied by Thomas Pape as Dolichotachina caudata Villeneuve.

Posted by ChrisR on 07-02-2012 12:12

#10

Very nice result - many thanks to Thomas for clearing that up :) A really great fly ... it just shows that there is *always* something out there that can amaze and puzzle Dipterists ;)

Posted by Will van Niekerk on 07-02-2012 22:33

#11

Glad I could provide an enigma - and even more glad that someone solved it!

Will.