Thread subject: Diptera.info :: Beautiful Phasia -> Ectophasia
Posted by Sundew on 03-02-2008 22:38
#1
Hello,
Isn't this a beauty? I think
Phasia can't be wrong, but species ID I would like to leave to the experts. It fed on milfoil (
Achillea millefolium, Asteraceae) on the Island of Usedom, close to the coast, in August.
Thanks, Sundew
Edited by Sundew on 03-02-2008 22:53
Posted by Stephane Lebrun on 03-02-2008 22:49
#2
This is
Ectophasia, and Theo will correct me if I'm wrong, but my guess is
E. oblonga, rather than crassipennis.
Edited by Stephane Lebrun on 03-02-2008 22:53
Posted by jorgemotalmeida on 03-02-2008 23:27
#3
I agree with St?phane.
Posted by Zeegers on 04-02-2008 17:53
#4
oblonga is very unlikely indeed at Usedom.
It is slightly reddish and elongated, I can see your point.
However, in my experience this could still be within the limits of crassipennis. So without specimen, ventral pic or pic of the rostrum (I know, I'm asking too much), this is Ectophasia spec. in my opinion.
Theo
Posted by Sundew on 04-02-2008 19:58
#5
Again, a very interesting discussion! I have already a photo series of a Berlin
Ectophasia crassipennis (ID by Theo), and my impression - from the camera resolution as well as the flowers the flies sat on - was that the Berlin fly was only half the size of the Usedom fly. Therefore I was quite sure I had found another genus.
No, there is no ventral pic (the fly did not roll around on the flowers, which would be a very unusual behaviour indeed...), and the rostrum is a bit small. So we settle for
E. cf.
crassipennis s.l. to be on the safe side. Thanks to all!
Sundew
Posted by Zeegers on 04-02-2008 21:17
#6
Size is of little use, in general with parasitoids, and with Phasia and Ectophasia in particular, because of the macho-male and feminine-male types. This, indeed, may differ by a factor of two or more in size.
Don't misunderstand me: it could be oblonga, however, I'm not gonna make such a bold call based on these pics alone.
Theo