Thread subject: Diptera.info :: Platystomatidae key
Posted by Andrius on 15-12-2006 19:38
#1
I've came into several problems while dealing with Platystomatidae. Firstly, is there a key for Palearctic species of this family? And secondly, Fauna Europaea gives
Platystoma seminatione (Fabricius 1775) with six subspecies while most of other online catalogs give
Platystoma seminationis (Fabricius, 1775) - which of those is correct?
Thank you for any suggestions ;)
Posted by Tony Irwin on 15-12-2006 22:12
#2
I'm no Latin scholar, but I suspect that
seminationis is a noun (derived from the verb
seminatio) in the genitive case. As a noun in apposition, it should retain its original spelling. If it is an adjective, then the ending should be changed to match the gender of the genus, which is indeed neutral (
stoma being a Greek word of neuter gender). Despite a couple of hours searching, I cannot find out whether
seminationis is a noun or an adjective. :( Anyone got a very big Latin dictionary? :)
Posted by jorgemotalmeida on 23-06-2007 21:17
#3
seminationis is a noun. It is a genitive of
seminatio--- it means "of reproduction" (or something like that) :) . I'm curious about the meaning of
Platystoma... because I didn?t find in dictionary. :S
Today I found lots of flies, some are new... ;) and i found very probably this fly -> Platystoma cf. seminationis above
Olea europaea's trunk.
your new avatar. :D ehehe
Posted by Tony Irwin on 23-06-2007 23:06
#4
jorgemotalmeida wrote:
seminationis is a noun. It is a genitive of seminatio--- it means "of reproduction" (or something like that) :) . I'm curious about the meaning of Platystoma... because I didn?t find in dictionary. :S
your new avatar. :D ehehe
I think "Platy" refers to broad or flat and "stoma" to mouth, so
Platystoma means "broad-mouth".
The new "face" is the posterior end of a
Tipula larva. Having taken the photos, I couldn't resist cropping one for a new avatar - this is exactly what it was like - no Photoshop alterations! B)
Posted by jorgemotalmeida on 23-06-2007 23:36
#5
tipulidae larvae! Where did you find it?
Posted by Tony Irwin on 24-06-2007 11:22
#6
Under some stones in my garden - they are very common pests here.
Posted by Andrew Whittington on 30-06-2007 18:16
#7
Andrius,
Welcome to the World of Platystomatidae, where there are many taxonomic problems. Hennig, W. 1945. Platystomidae. Die fliegen der Palaearktischen Region:
48: 1 - 56. is your best bet, although not ideal in some respects.
Platystoma seminationis (Fabricius, 1775) is correct.
I'm intrigued - what do have? Are there many specimens and is there a need for a revised key to the European species? I have been focusing on the tropical fauna, because there is so much more work required there.