Thread subject: Diptera.info :: Small Tachinid (?) at light
Posted by Juergen Peters on 30-05-2008 02:03
#1
Hello!
This 4 mm fly visited the UV lamp yesterday night (northwest Germany). Is it a Tachinid?
Posted by Zeegers on 30-05-2008 16:50
#2
Yes.
Looks like a Siphonini, can't tell more if this is the only pic.
Theo
Posted by Juergen Peters on 30-05-2008 18:50
#3
Hello, Theo!
Zeegers wrote:
Looks like a Siphonini, can't tell more if this is the only pic.
Thanks! Yes, unfortunately this is the only picture.
Siphona was also my first thought judging from size and habitus, but I know them more yellow and on flowers by day ;), so I was not sure where to put this one.
Posted by ChrisR on 30-05-2008 19:26
#4
Just to clarify - Theo said it could be any of the genera in the tribe Siphonini - but he didn't say it was a
Siphona sp. ;) There are many other genera in the tribe (eg.
Actia,
Ceranthia,
Entomophaga,
Ceromya etc) to choose from and this fly would need keying :(
Posted by Zeegers on 30-05-2008 20:08
#5
Actually, I don't think it is Siphona, it is too dark and the proboscis should have been visible.
So Chris' explanation is correct.
Theo
Posted by Kahis on 30-05-2008 20:35
#6
I think it is
Siphona - a very old and worn one. Traces of the original pale yellow-grey dusting are visible and the tip of the folded proboscis can be seen between the antennae.
Posted by Juergen Peters on 30-05-2008 21:02
#7
Hello, Chris!
Chris Raper wrote:
Just to clarify - Theo said it could be any of the genera in the tribe Siphonini - but he didn't say it was a Siphona sp. ;)
Yes, I understood that, when he did not write
Siphona, but Siphonini ;). But
Siphona was (and is) the only genus I knew of them, and my first superficial impression was that of at least something near
Siphona. And I also had the impression that this was a rather worn specimen.
Also thanks to Kahis!
Posted by ChrisR on 30-05-2008 22:07
#8
Kahis wrote:
I think it is Siphona - a very old and worn one. Traces of the original pale yellow-grey dusting are visible and the tip of the folded proboscis can be seen between the antennae.
I see what you mean but I have never seen a
Siphona look so black so I am wondering what could have caused the dusting to go but didn't affect the bristles ... or what the thing between the antennae is. Perhaps it is normal fly mouthparts but seen from above making them look like a proboscis?
Posted by Zeegers on 31-05-2008 10:06
#9
Kahis could be right, however, his proboscis could be a palpus.
And the light is either tricky or it is not Siphona.
There is only one European Siphona this dark: Siphona nigricans, nomen est omen and very rare indeed.
I don't have a final opinion on this.
Theo
Posted by Juergen Peters on 01-06-2008 02:22
#10
Hello!
Here is a similar one from yesterday afternoon - from a place I'm used to find them ;). Unfortunately only one still worse picture...
Posted by Zeegers on 01-06-2008 12:00
#11
This, on the other hand, is undoubtedly a proboscis.
SO Siphona it is, with for some reason aberrant coloured abdomen.
Theo
Posted by Juergen Peters on 01-06-2008 19:10
#12
Zeegers wrote:
Siphona it is, with for some reason aberrant coloured abdomen.
Thanks, Theo!