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May 23, 2006.
Size 3mm.

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Here's a dorsal view.

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It's a tachinid, probably tribus Siphonini but not Siphona as it does not have a long proboscis. Pwrhaps Actia?

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Thanks a lot Kahis,
I never met (in my Diptera-conscious time) such a small Tachinidae.

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Definitely a tachinid. I'd kind of agree with Kahis about Actia but it might also possibly be something like Phytomyptera sp. or Paracraspedothrix montivaga. I will compare them to some specimens here and come back to you :)

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After checking my specimens I think it is an Actia - perhaps infantula, but I can't see the katepisternum clearly enough to be sure.

Replying to Black's comments on its small size: There are several small species of tachinid in families like Actia , Phytomyptera and Paracraspedothrix. These have correspondingly small hosts, like micro-moth larvae in fungi. Of course, if the host is extra small and doesn't eat well then the resulting tachinid fly is even smaller than normal :D

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Thanks a lot Chris,

I've just checked what on Earth that katepisternum is (with Syrphidae as an example, http://home.hccnet.nl/mp.van.veen/KEYS/bodypart.htm) and there's more lateral views available, so maybe I'll post an additional image when I'm (finally) home.

Regarding small size, now I remember recent discussion here about Tachinidae spp. size variations, yet I presume that flies of the mentioned genae are typically/invariably small...

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Yes, if you have any additional images please send them - they are very good :) Also, if you can see a way of enlarging the katepisternum so that we can see the bristles clearly then that would help.

Thanks

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I think it is Peribaea tibialis:

Male Actia infantula has larger third antennal segment.
It seems to be a male (?).
Moreover, the lowest sternopleural bristles seems to be thick.

Other species of Actia can be ruled out by the lack of bristles on the CU-vein.
As can very well be seen in the picture.


Theo Zeegers

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Ahhh, good work Theo - we don't have Peribaea tibialis here so I am not familiar with it. :)

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Thanks

still, a additional photo showing either the sternopleuron or the wing would be useful.
I consider the ID provisionally.


Theo

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Thanks again Theo and Chris,
Here's the best combined crop of lateral views I was able to make.

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And the wing.