Diptera.info

Posted by jorgemotalmeida on 20-03-2008 14:09

Today I spotted my first Bombyliid on a wind day and clear sky. Temperature around 15 ?C.

EDIT: Title changed from "First Bombyliidae 2008 - Bombylius cf. cruciatus" to "First Bombyliidae 2008 - Bombylius cf. undatus"

Edited by jorgemotalmeida on 21-03-2008 18:34

Posted by jorgemotalmeida on 20-03-2008 14:30

in last year, http://diptera.in...post_23145
I spotted the B. cruciatus early. This year the weather is much colder and rainy in relation to the 2007.

Posted by crex on 20-03-2008 14:41

I see you are getting a little collection of pinned flies. Do you collect all kinds or do you specialize in some families? How many do you have so far? I understand this is an awkward question for many collectors so you don't have to reply B)

Posted by David Gibbs on 20-03-2008 17:18

This would appear to be the same species as posted by Rui a few days ago. I have attempted to key it and the answer i come to is Bombylius undatus. However, not all required characters are visible so this is still a provisional det.

Posted by jorgemotalmeida on 20-03-2008 17:36

I found 4 bombyliids today. Two like these. And maybe an Anastoechus species...(not sure about this one, it run away).

So which features would be need to photograph just to be sure... AND what are the main differences between B. undatus and B. cruciatus?

Posted by David Gibbs on 20-03-2008 18:23

for a species i do not have in my collection i can only be sure with a specimen in front of me (and even then not every time). Photos can so often be deceptive. but if i could be sure of leg colour i think we could key it with 90% certainty.

female cruciatus has a white band across abdomen, see http://www.diptera.info/photogallery.php?photo_id=1866

Posted by jorgemotalmeida on 21-03-2008 03:58

black tarsi, tibia brown, and femur with a mix of brown/black. We can see a black line very softly on the femur but not in the full length. Given this can we say that this is the B. undatus?

So this
http://diptera.in...post_23145

is also the B. undatus?

Posted by David Gibbs on 21-03-2008 11:37

#10

jorgemotalmeida wrote:
black tarsi, tibia brown, and femur with a mix of brown/black. We can see a black line very softly on the femur but not in the full length. Given this can we say that this is the B. undatus?

NO, but you can say in keys to undatus in Engel. B. ? undatus would be reasonable.

given that a fairly large minority of European beefly species are yet to be described, photographs are NEVER good enough for me to name unfamilar species.

So this
http://diptera.in...post_23145

is also the B. undatus?

NO, dont get males and females mixed up, look at female cruciatus in gallery http://www.dipter...to_id=1866. your ?undatus shares with male cruciatus the pale median line and wing pattern only.

Posted by jorgemotalmeida on 21-03-2008 18:32

#11

thanks, Gibbs. It is clear now. :)

I found a Seguy's description concerning B. undatus.
"B. undatus MIKAN. - KERT?SZ, V, 144.
9. T?te h?riss?e de longs poils noirs et de courts poils jaunes, quel254
FAUNEDE FRANCE.- DIPT?RES
ques ?cailles dor?es couch?es sur le t?gument. Thorax, bord ant?rieur
avec une bande de poils noirs; pleures et sternites abdominaux ? villosit?
d'un gris sare. Balanciers noir?tres. Pattes rousses. - cf : fourrure jaune
plus ?paisse, pattes plus claires. Ailes plus larg-ement brunies. - L. 7-
9,5 mm."