Thread subject: Diptera.info :: Black Paragus.

Posted by Pietro on 10-11-2008 16:35
#1

Uri, Sardinia 14/06/2008 dimensions: around 5 mm.
Peragus female, ID possible?

Posted by Pietro on 10-11-2008 16:36
#2

Photo 2

Posted by Pietro on 10-11-2008 16:36
#3

Photo 3

Posted by Andre on 10-11-2008 21:46
#4

Interesting (but difficult)...
There are not so many Paragus (s.str.) species where female have a lacking facial stripe, like in this case. Still, ID based on a picture is risky!
Paragus can be very variable, in males as well as females.
Possibly this is Paragus quadrifasciatus female. But I stay in doubt for some reasons. So that's as far as my guess goes...

Maybe.. if you have a sharp and close-up picture from the side of the tip of her abdomen, a certain ID can be made.
Better is, to collect them (and don't forget to collect the males with them! :) )

Edited by Andre on 10-11-2008 21:47

Posted by pierred on 11-11-2008 07:43
#5

Hello,

Andre wrote:
Possibly this is Paragus quadrifasciatus female. But I stay in doubt for some reasons.


In Van Veen's key, it keys out rather directly to P. quadrifasciatus. What are your reasons to doubt?

Posted by Pietro on 11-11-2008 19:25
#6

Thanks André, hello Pierre
sorry, I do not have other pictures and I don’ t have captured the insect. I think your diagnosis is most probable, I have caught a male very similar in an other occasion identified as Paragus quadrifasciatus (on specimen) by Daniele Sommaggio.

Posted by Andre on 12-11-2008 00:23
#7

pierred wrote:
Hello,

Andre wrote:
Possibly this is Paragus quadrifasciatus female. But I stay in doubt for some reasons.


In Van Veen's key, it keys out rather directly to P. quadrifasciatus. What are your reasons to doubt?


Because of the variability, because it's a female, because I don't see the tip of the abdomen, because there are more species with reduced facial stripe, because I don't know if Sardinia might have endemic species...
But, it's a very common species :)

Posted by pierred on 12-11-2008 08:36
#8

André,

Thanks for taking the time to write it down.