Thread subject: Diptera.info :: Therevidae male - Pandivirilia melaleuca?

Posted by Sundew on 23-05-2020 00:13
#1

Hi,
This nice fly reminded me of a Cliorismia, but it isn't. The fermora have no yellow apices, and the genital is black. Van Veen's key (https://home.hccn...vidae.html) led to Pandivirilia melaleuca, but there is only few information available about this species, and the pictures I found show females. So it would be great to get a confirmation or correction of my ID! The location is a wood edge in southwestern Germany, about 20 km west of Stuttgart.
Thanks for help, Sundew

Posted by Sundew on 25-05-2020 18:03
#2

Any opinions?

Posted by Sundew on 05-06-2020 12:37
#3

As P. melaleuca is probably shown in thread https://diptera.i...d_id=95129, I suppose I identified my male correctly.

Posted by Ectemnius on 03-07-2020 11:39
#4

Hello Sundew,

In Lyneborg's 1986 key it easy to get confused between P. melaleuca and P. caesia. For P. caesia males he gives the following account: "Abdomen in dorsal and caudal views dull black- ish, only silvery white tomentose on lateral parts of tergites". Now this is very difficult to judge. Fortunately I've now seen material of both species and lots of photo's. The vague blackness in the middle of the tergites makes this P. caesia. Also the habitus of P. melaleuca is far more silverish, compact and it misses the yellow wing base. For examples see photo's of;
P. caesia: https://waarnemin...003555.jpg and
P. melaleuca: https://waarnemin...283267.jpg

Kind regards,
Ectemnius

Posted by Sundew on 03-07-2020 15:23
#5

Ah - that's very interesting! Van Veen's key likewise says for P. caesia: "Male: abdomen in top view black with silverish dust only at the side margin", which I found to be incongruous with my fly. Also the habitat "little stream marshes at the start of streams" did not match, as my fly was on a woody hill with no trace of a stream anywhere. The flight period "June" of P. caesia seemed too late for my fly that was seen on May 15th. P. melaleuca was said to fly already in May. - The linked picture of P. melaleuca, however, looks very different (recalling Acrosathe), so, relying on your great experience, I gladly accept P. caesia - many thanks indeed!

Edited by Sundew on 03-07-2020 15:30