Posted by Caillou on 09-02-2013 07:19
#1
Hello,
This is an attempt at indirect identification, so my apologies in advance if anything (or everything!) there is wrong, as it may well be...
The hypothesis is the insect is
Sphaerocera curvipes; the reasoning is as follows:
A) The photos don’t show the normal criteria, i.e. the typical hind tibia curved ventral spine, but:
B) The habitus looks like a Sphaeroceridae
C) The genus should be Sphaerocera, because:
C.1) The wing venation match
C.2) The scutellum setae are aligned
D) The specimen comes from Switzerland, where FaunaEuropea locates only 2 among the 4 European Sphaerocera species, i.e.
monilis and
curvipes
D.1) The other two (sub)species are geographically far away (just Sweden), so no confusion should be possible
D.2)
monilis is excluded because the white stripes on the fore tarsi are clearly missing (the right fore tarsus on the darkened photo shows this, despite the left one which is probably a victim of the so bad lighting in this picture)
==> Therefore
curvipes is the only possible match
Does this make sense, at least partially??
And if not, would any ID be possible with these pictures?
Thank you very much for your help!
31/1/2013, Vevey, Switzerland, on a wood fence in a little wood
Size: 4 mm (body), 3.8 mm (wing)
Edited by Caillou on 11-02-2013 22:11
Posted by Caillou on 11-02-2013 22:10
#5
Great! Thank you so much Paul!
I also wish to express here my gratitude toward latique and Sord of insecte.org, without whom this determination would not have been possible!