Thread subject: Diptera.info :: Bithia acanthophora? (Tachinidae) --> Bithia modesta

Posted by rafael_carbonell on 20-09-2012 22:45
#1

I've tried to identify this tachinidae with the palearctic interactive keys, as some legs and bristles are absent, and got Bithia. Following Bithia, in the dichotomic centraleuropean keys I got B. acanthophora. In the same keys, as I could'nt see all characters needed, or did'nt them clear, it could also be Fausta and Eurithia (more rarely Meigenia or Blondelia). I don't know which sex could it be.

In the picture its showed, between others, mid tibia II (the unique left) (in a strange position)and humeral callus.

1st july 2007, Spain: Catalonia: Girona: Beuda, 395 m.

Leghth: about 9 mm.

Head: Bare eyes. Frons width in the narrowest point dorsally: 2.15 mm; Eye width (the same): 1.65. Parafacial (cheeks) entirely bare below lowest frontal seta (but short pubescent). Lower facial margin slightly visible in lateral view. Postero ventral part of
head with a majority of white hairs. Laterally gena 0,85 in lenght and eye (vertical) lenght: 3.7 (rate: 0.22).

Mouthparts: Vibrissa at height of mouth edge. Above the vibrissa only a few hairs or bristlets on the lower 1/5 of the facial ridges. Dark brown palpi. Haustellum (=prementum) of the proboscis slim (lenght/wide rate at 4.5) and shorter than the maximum eye diameter.

Antenna: antenna longer than height of gena. Arista with short pubescence (hairs at most reaching length of basal diameter of arista)(and that takes out Zeuxia)., thick in the basal 1/3, and the 2nd segment no longer than its diameter. 3rd antennal segment without a pointed tip at the distal end.

Thorax: 3 interalar bristles behind the thoracic suture. Sternopleural (=Katepisternum) with 3 setae. Postpronotum (humeral callus) with 3 setae in a straight line, BUT (and that takes out Bithia) one a bit more advanced than the other 3. The strong subapical scutellar bristles apparently stronger than the apicals (both four are accidentally missing). Pre-alar bristle shorter and weaker than the notopleural. Prosternum (apparently) bare, but very short pubescent. Scutellum without lateral bristles (just hairs or small bristlets), but one strong basal bristle.

Wing: R5 closed just at wing edge. Bend of M with an obtuse angle before margin (and that takes out Zeuxia). Vein m-cu not noticeably slanted. The section of m between r-m and m-cu is longer as that between m-cu and the deflection. r4+5 with 4-5 bristlets extending to 1/8 to rm. r1 and cu1 bare. Calyptrae bare on their surface, with fine hairlets only at the edge; lower calyptra spoon shaped. Tegula black. Basicosta medium brown.

Abdomen: Synterguites I+II depression at 7/8 of its lenght; terguites 3 and 4 with 2 median discal setae;


Is Bithia acanthophora oK? I have more detailed pictures if needed. Thanks in advance

Edited by rafael_carbonell on 25-01-2023 23:44