Posted by Sundew on 31-07-2012 18:41
#1
Hi,
Some time ago Chris taught me how to identify
C. auriceps females. Now I try my knowledge: to me, there are those small spikes/bristlets on the underside corners of tergite-2 that are decisive. The little fly was so kind to show the bottom side. So I hope I got the right species name - do you agree?
Thanks, Sundew
Posted by ChrisR on 31-07-2012 23:51
#3
Very difficult ...
C.auriceps is part of a group of very similar species and the spikelets are only reliable in one of the sexes (can't remember which without my keys). In my experience
C.auriceps is the commonest southern European
Cylindromyia but that isn't a good basis for an identification! ;)
Posted by Zeegers on 04-08-2012 17:45
#5
The pattern of dust on thoracic dorsum is consistent with interrupta, not auriceps.
However, the picture might be misleading. If you have any other pic showing the thoracic dorsum....
Theo
Posted by Sundew on 04-08-2012 21:11
#6
I am afraid I have no better dorsal pic of this fly, I focused on the bottom side :D. As it was near sunset (the fly intended to sleep there) I had to use a strong flash that might have given a wrong impression.
So
C. interrupta females also have these spikelets on tergite-2? I paid no attention to this species, because I learnt that there are no apical scutellar bristles, and I thought mine would have one. However, my poor knowledge came from a simple graphic saying the scutellum had just basal and apical bristles. Meanwhile I know that there may also be subapical ones, and obviously my fly shows these and no real apicals.
I add some photos of another individual, seen a week earlier at a location not too far away from the first one. It also has the tergite-2 spikelets, so I suppose it is the same species. I did not intend to post that specimen, as the pics are somewhat blurred. However, they were taken without flashlight, which may give a more natural impression of the thorax dusting. Is it helpful?
Thanks for all your efforts!
Edited by Sundew on 04-08-2012 21:14