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I am having the same problems with this one, taken the same day in the same location. Again, it is female, 9-10mm. An array of neatly crossed bristles down the frons, hairy eyes, plumose arista. I feel the discal cross vein is unusual, with its distinctive peak in the middle. The venation and general colouration was brown, not black or grey. I can post more pics if it would be helpful. This fly also appears to be common.

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Hi Susan,


There are no hypopleural bristles and vein M is straight, so this is in Muscidae (or Anthomyiidae, but given the bulky appereance: Muscidae).

From there on, you are on your own.

Theo Zeegers

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Theo

Many thanks. It is reassuring that I am on the right track. I can't get away with just instinct any more though, having just started formal training in taxonomy.

The abdomen on this specimen is quite broad and I too felt it was perhaps to big and solid all round for Anthomyiidae - shame in a way, as I have just received Michael Ackland's key for the Anthomyiidae of Britain, and it would have been a good chance to practice on it.

I am starting to wonder about Hydrotaea or Fannia, as Colyer talks about the females having a row of crossed bristles down the sides of the facial stripe, and a tendency to be found associating with Pollenia, which were indeed present on the day. My impression though is that these genera tend to be rather black, and this fly is not.

This will have to wait until next week, as I am off house hunting in France over the weekend.

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Hi Susan I think Muscidae. Fannidae are slender too, like Anthomyiidae as you say:). Fanniidae are also small. My best guess is Phaonia or Mydaea- note the abdominal tesselation (shiny patches). I'll try to decide when I have a little time. Robert

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I'm going to really stick my neck out and say that now I have done some more work on this fly, I think it is Phaonia signata. P erratica is very similar, but it is P signata that seems to have that distinctive peaked cross vein.

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You could well be right:D Susan but how did you work to this conclusion?. Sorry to be a drag but .... P.S. I can let you have some Phaonia keys (Ringdahl etc ) if you don't have them. Sunny B) but cold:( in Belfast this am Robert

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Robert

Not a drag - perfectly valid question. The reason I am sticking my neck out is precisely because I don't have a key for Phaonia, so my conclusion is based on reading as much as I could (Colyer and Hammond of course, but also anything I could find on line about Phaonia). I haven't had a chance to check out libraries (I have rather remote access to Birmingham Uni, and Birkbeck, which is close enough to visit, but I have to find the time). I was hoping my post would cause someone to pop up and say 'but have you considered ...'

If you have keys for Phaonia, I'd be really grateful, as I am obviously going to come across the little blighters fairly frequently, so I might as well get good at them. Bear in mind that I am not up to dissecting yet, so am working with external characteristics only at present. Hopefully, by the end of the year dissecting should not be such a scary prospect though. It's why I am procrastinating with my Anthos as well - they all seem to require dissection.

I am busy packing for Australia at the moment, ready to leave on Saturday, so I'm in a bit of a flap. Are the keys electronic? If so you could send me a PM.

Temperature here has finally turned mild enough for it to be warm in sheltered sunny spots, but with the change in season come quite violent winds always here.