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it seems tachinidae to me (?), about 6mm, cylindrical abdomen, hairy. I beg you pardon, I have no camera, so this is a bad scan!

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muscidae? calliphoridae? I still have problems with these families

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I think I?m sure this is tachinidae; cylindrical abdomen too, but bigger (a little more than 1cm), hairy too

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Hi Nigella.

Sorry, but the picts are too small to give a definite opinion.
But first impression is that most, if not all, are actually Sarcophagidae or Calliphoridae.

A very very crude, but nevertheless quite effective rule of thumb goes like this:

Arista bare -> Tachinidae (or Sarcophagidae Miltogramminae)
Arista plumuse -> Sarcophagidae / Sarcophaginae, Calliphoridae or Muscidae

If all the animals in your pictures have plumose arista, most will not be Tachinids


Theo

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thanks for the effort! I was only considering the big bristles at the end of the abdomen :)

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so, what about the arista ?
Bare or plumose ?

Since you asked, now I would like to know


Theo

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Arista (Theo means allmost) bare can also mean Anthomyiidae. More slender species. But not on these pictures, that's quite clear.

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I?ve read there is a exception in tachinidae, but I?m not sure if it?s exoristinae or just exorista they have the arista not bare; I still have no lenses, maybe next week I?ll see

thanks everybody :)

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The exceptions are Dexiini and some Tachininae, Thelaira being the most prominent example. Dexiinae have, in general, long legs and a distinct longitudinal facial keel. But my advice is: start understanding Sarcophaginae, then you will pick out Dexiini in due time.


Theo