Posted by Sundew on 16-10-2024 18:33
#1
Hi,
Limnophora females are tricky, nevertheless I’d like to show you this one. In the key of D’Assis Fonseca (1968), the description of
L. riparia fits quite well, as the flat frons looks strikingly white at certain angles. However, the pictures were taken in Berlin (on the banks of a little stream, 20 June 2024), and
L. riparia has not yet been recorded for the Berlin/Brandenburg region... So has this fly, so patiently posing in front of the camera, to remain
Limnophora spec.?
Thanks for help, Sundew
Edited by Sundew on 18-10-2024 20:27
Posted by Sundew on 18-10-2024 20:54
#4
Many thanks, Nikita!
Meanwhile I tried to find more information on this species that is said to be widespread in Central Europe but only rarely observed in Germany. Drees (
https://www.natur...scidae.pdf) writes: "The occurrence of this fly is always closely linked to ‘rapids’, which can also be of artificial origin and very small." The larvae live in algae and moss mats and prey on Simuliid larvae. - Well, our Berlin stream is a really slow one, and the fly sat on a bridge railing in a small swamp area. That is not the typical habitat for
L. riparia, but in any case there are Simuliids.
Does anyone in our community have experience with the habitat range of
L. riparia? I would be very happy to receive some more information!