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keyed this female rhinophorid fly to be a Phyto melanocephala (caught 19/8 Denmark), BUT ??? does it sometimes come without the median discal seta on tergites 3

key says: Tergites 3 and 4 with some strong discals as well as marginals

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Please always mention place and date. This is an international forum, quite relevant to know if it is from Norway, Croatia or Corea.

Yes, it looks like Phyto and no, it doen not look like melanocephala. There are more species, depending on location.

Theo

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Well, Theo did not read carefully ;). Denmark, 19th August should be sufficient.
I am no help with Phyto, though - sorry...
Regards, Sundew

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Sorry for my mistake.
Denmark marrows its down…

if you could provide a lateral shot of the head, that might help


Theo

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if you need me to focus on some seta, let me know

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I am getting more and more confused. It has Stevenia bristles on the parafacial ??
Could we please see a close-up of the thorax, lateral view, to establish whether the praealae bristle is strong or weak ?

Thanks

Theo

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the prealar looks strong

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Yes, I agree. So it is Phyto, as already suggested by the head profile.

Need to think more

Theo

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melanocephala seems to be the only phyto species in denmark, so im starting to think the discals most have fallen of tg3, just cant see any scars or sockets

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Wing venation disagrees with melanocephala: stalk too long.
Hence the temporary confusion with Stevenia.

Theo

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cool if it turned out to be a stevenia,,,, their not recorded in denmark it seems

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what do i do from here ?. just accept that its a phyto sp or is there somthing else we could check ? ;)

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It is a weird specimen, I do not dare to make the call without studying the specimen itself. If you are desperate , you can send it over. Give me a PM.

Theo