Diptera.info

Posted by tim worfolk on 17-06-2009 09:02

I'm fairly sure this is the same sp. as one I requested ID for a week or two back - here http://www.dipter...d_id=22037

However, I'm not completely convinced so could someone confirm or correct?

photographed 9/6/2009; Devon, England.

Thanks

Tim

Edited by tim worfolk on 04-07-2009 12:47

Posted by ChrisR on 17-06-2009 11:06

I am not sure what it is but it isn't Pelatachina - this one has hairy eyes and Pelatachina has bare eyes. It looks like it could be something really interesting though so I hope someone can offer some suggestions but without a specimen I am a bit lost :)

Posted by tim worfolk on 17-06-2009 13:50

Thanks Chris. Actually the hairy eye was one of the reasons why I wasn't 100% certain, seems I was right to be unsure. Lets hope Theo sees this and can come up with something.

Tim

Posted by ChrisR on 17-06-2009 13:54

Do you have any other angles? Perhaps a look at the face or a dorsal shot that shows the wings better? :)

Posted by tim worfolk on 17-06-2009 14:26

Unfortunately no. This was one that sat still long enough to get 4 shots off - all the same angle, but when I moved the tripod to get a different view it flew. I can offer much higher resolution pictures, though I guess that probably won't help.

Tim

Posted by ChrisR on 17-06-2009 17:25

It would certainly be a very nice record if it is M.viridana - it's quite rare here in the UK. I only have 2 specimens - both from Europe :)

Posted by tim worfolk on 18-06-2009 10:21

Thanks for your suggestion Erikas; but given the rarity of M.viridana in Britain, is another Macquartia sp. a possibility? From my limited researches, don't the reddish femora also suggest M.dispar?

I really hesitate to stick my neck out - this is an area in which I am a complete beginner. I'm just trying to keep the debate going in the hope of some king of resolution.

Thanks

Tim

Posted by neprisikiski on 18-06-2009 23:16

the reddish femora could also suggest dispar, but the latter species is not so intensively dusted in my experience

Posted by tim worfolk on 19-06-2009 09:12

#10

And I guess the length of the pre-alar bristle is not much help from this angle either. This sounds like it could be an interesting record but I suspect it will be just another that got away.

The frustrations of photography...

Thanks for all your help

Tim

Posted by Zeegers on 01-07-2009 21:08

#11

the males of viridana and dispar are clearly different, but the females are very similar indeed.
Hardly to distinguish, actually.

And, of course, this is a female ...

so, to me it is dispar/viridana, and given the date dispar is the first guess.

Theo

Posted by tim worfolk on 01-07-2009 21:46

#12

Thanks Theo, kind of you to take the trouble. Looks like I'll have to find the male, then.

Tim