Thread subject: Diptera.info :: Anthomyiid? England, October -> Delia platura

Posted by Martin Cooper on 24-10-2014 23:50
#1

Found on hedge at Martlesham, Suffolk, UK on 22 October 2014.
Please help identify the species. I can provide additional photos if that would help.
Here is the fly before I captured it.

Best wishes,
Martin

Edited by Martin Cooper on 25-10-2014 21:42

Posted by Martin Cooper on 24-10-2014 23:51
#2

lateral view of pinned fly

Posted by Martin Cooper on 24-10-2014 23:51
#3

dorsal view

Posted by Martin Cooper on 24-10-2014 23:51
#4

wing

Posted by Martin Cooper on 24-10-2014 23:53
#5

lateral close-up of head and thorax

Posted by Martin Cooper on 24-10-2014 23:54
#6

face

Posted by Martin Cooper on 24-10-2014 23:54
#7

side view of genitalia

Posted by Martin Cooper on 24-10-2014 23:55
#8

ventral view of genitalia

Posted by Martin Cooper on 24-10-2014 23:56
#9

and here is another ventral view of the genitalia.

Posted by John Carr on 25-10-2014 03:00
#10

Although I can't see how long the row of pv on the hind femur is, the rest of it looks like Delia platura. The pv row should be short, about 3 distinct bristles near the distal end of the femur.

The pinned lateral photo shows the origin of the species name, Greek for "flat tail."

Posted by Martin Cooper on 25-10-2014 08:38
#11

Thanks John. The specimen has dried with its hind legs rather close together making it quite hard to see the ventral sides; although I have something of blind spot for which side is which, despite efforts by Johanna to help me! Here is the image that I cropped to get the side view of the genitalia, which includes the hind femora.

Edited by Martin Cooper on 25-10-2014 08:40

Posted by Martin Cooper on 25-10-2014 08:39
#12

and here's a crop of the distal ends...

Posted by Martin Cooper on 25-10-2014 10:07
#13

Here is another fly which I think may be the same species, photographed at almost same place and time as previous specimen.

Posted by Martin Cooper on 25-10-2014 10:09
#14

and here's a crop of the distal femur of that individual.

Posted by javanerkelens on 25-10-2014 21:17
#15

Excellent photos of Delia platura (what John already said..)
Only the last one...a bit difficult to confirm if it is indeed also D. platura.
Compliment for your effort!

Johanna


Posted by Martin Cooper on 25-10-2014 21:36
#16

Thanks John and Johanna! I was surprised by those white hairs on the ends of the surstyli. They aren't visible in the lateral view but are quite striking in the view from below.

Best wishes,

Martin