---

Hello,

can someone help me with this ~ 7 mm ("estimated", I measured the twig afterwards) Heleomyzinae? I found it basking in the sun in a deciduous forest.
Using Illustrated draft key to the UK genera and species of Heleomyzidae by Sivell, Stubbs and Andrews (November 2024) https://dipterist...cheme/home I got to Gymnomus spectabilis.

I think I got all relevant characteristics from the key. But are there any other similar species in Germany that could be considered?

Northern Germany, Hildesheim, 28.12.2024, 233 m, ~ 7 mm

- dark spots at bases of dorsocentrals
- strong costal spines


- katepisternum with 1 strong bristle in upper hind corner
- 1 pair of vibrissae, no bristles above vibrissae
- posterior gena lacking prominent bristle


- hind femur with 2-3 anterodorsal bristles in apical third
- mid tibia with 2 ventral apical bristles


- thorax grey, abdomen orange
- anepisternum bare

Thank you in advance,
Stephan

---

Here is the original key to the Gymnomus species in the Palearctic Region. https://www.resea...leomyzidae ;

and here is a better one:
https://www.resea...cmVjdCJ9fQ .
If I can remember the VIIIth sternite of G. spectabilis is distinctly elongated and heart-shaped at the apex (unpublished data)...

---

Thanks for the additional resources. As far as I can tell, it still matches G. spectabilis. In addition to the other key:
- 1 row of genal setulae
- anterior orbital bristle at least 0.60 of the height of the posterior bristle
- thin dark brown stripe present between the dorsocentrals

However, I'm not quite sure if what I was looking at are the genal setulae and anterior/posterior orbital bristles. Is it 1 and 2 or 1 and 3? 3 is way shorter in other photos I checked that should be G. spectabilis, too. (see attached picture).

---

no. 3 = anterior orbital, no. 3 = postrior orbital (genal setulae are OK). Pls check the VIII th abdominal sternite (it is a one small plate on the ventral side), but the ovipositor must be strongly protruded ... That would solve the ID problems...