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Hi,

I have been finding what I believe is Sylvicola fenestralis in my garden recently (Buckinghamshire, UK). I'm keying them out using Freeman's key to Anisopodidae in the 1950 Royal Ent Soc key to Nematocera - so far I've only found females, so there is an element of doubt, but they seem to fit Freeman's description of fenestralis much better than cinctus.

In the Recorder database, the species account for S. fenestralis says:

"A 'window gnat' that has been reported to breed in compost heaps. Though historically regarded as common, there are no recent records. Past identifications may have been confused with S. cinctus."

Are there really no recent UK records for it? What is the status elsewhere in Europe? Are there any more up-to-date keys than tha Freeman one?

Thanks,
Martin

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In the records I have from the Netherlands, fenestralis is more frequent than cintus but the records may not be representative for the real occurence.

Key and additional information:
Krivosheina, N.P., & F. Menzel, 1998. The Palaearctic species of the genus Sylvicola Harris, 1776 (Diptera, Anisopodidae). - Beitr?ge zur Entomologie 48: 201-217.
Michelsen, V., 1999. Wood gnats of the genus Sylvicola (Diptera, Anisopodidae): taxonomic status, family assignment, and review of nominal species described by J.C. Fabricius. - Tijdschrift voor Entomologie 142: 69-75.

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Hi Martin,

The following publication might also be usefull:

S?li, G.E.E., 1992. Norwegian species of Sylvicola Harris, 1776 (Diptera: Anisopodidae).?Fauna norvegica. Series B 39: 49-54.

However the publication of Krivosheina, N.P., & F. Menzel (1998) Paul refers to is better because a few species described in this publication are not included in S?li (1992).

Jan Willem

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You can view the latest comprehensive key HERE. Formating is not particularly nice and navagation may be a bit awkward, but it works. The nomenclatorial update by Michelsen (1999) is included.

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Many thanks for all the help and useful information.

Martin