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? identification
marjolijn cardozo	#1 Posted on 28-09-2006 17:40
Member Location: Posts: 2 Joined: 28.09.06	surfing the web to search for identification of my photo subjects, I found diptera.info thank you all for creating this site, I like the good photographs, the indepth information and active members. I know it is difficult to distinguish species by pictures, but I hope that identification of the genus could be possible at least. Can you identify the fly? I took the image in the Ardennes, Belgium in a specific calcerous biotope (Karst region), some days ago. The size is the same as a Yellow dungfly. marjolijn marjolijn cardozo attached the following image: [69.05Kb]


Nikita Vikhrev	#2 Posted on 28-09-2006 18:14
Member Location: Moscow, Russia Posts: 9226 Joined: 24.05.05	Hi Marjolijn. I don't know whether Yellow dungfly = Scathophaga starcoraria, but it is Scathophaga starcoraria. Very variable species, but you can se black antennae with plumose arista. Nikita Nikita Vikhrev - Zool Museum of Moscow University


Kahis	#3 Posted on 28-09-2006 19:13
Member Location: Helsinki, Finland Posts: 1999 Joined: 02.09.04	This fly really did draw the short straw when names were doled out. 'Shitloving shiteater' Such harsh words! And mostly uncalled for; S. stercoraria may love excrement but it certainly doesn't eat it. It is indeed very variable in color and to a lesser degree in size too. I think the variability is at least partially linked to the temperature during the early stages. Edited by Kahis on 28-09-2006 19:14 Kahis


marjolijn cardozo	#4 Posted on 02-10-2006 16:58
Member Location: Posts: 2 Joined: 28.09.06	thank you, you are probably right. Both have the same face, I attach an image to compare, this is a Yellow dungfly (i think).The yellow one has much more hair, more like fur. Perhaps it is the colour, or just another variability. Al those flies have different names, and these 2 look different and are the same species. It's funny. marjolijn. marjolijn cardozo attached the following image: [35.06Kb]