Diptera.info

Posted by jezlee on 21-08-2009 10:10

As a complete novice to the field, I was wondering if any of the resident experts could give me any advice? If I collect a specimen in the field, how do I begin to identify it? I would imagine getting it to family would be the first step; and if so, are there existing keys which would enable me to do that? Sorry if I sound a little confused, it's because I am! :)

Posted by ChrisR on 21-08-2009 11:07

I would start by pinning it properly so that you can manipulate it under a microscope or strong magnifier. Do you have access to a microscope? I have a page about collecting insects on my blog.

Next, I would try to get to grips with the different families. After a bit of practice you can spot families that you are interested in in the field but there's nothing better than knowing *why* your fly belongs to a particular group - it can stop you trying to key something in the wrong book ;) The standard key would be Unwin,D.M.(1991): "A key to the families of British Diptera" published by the FSC and freely available on their website: http://www.field-..._143_A.pdf

When you have it to family you then have to locate the appropriate key and that should get you to species :) People here can help with advice about family keys.

Posted by Igor Grichanov on 21-08-2009 11:15

As a complete novice, you should visit gallery, http://www.diptera.info/photogallery.php, paying attention to ten most numerous families. I think they include 90% of pictures published here and 90% of flies that you will see in the field. To find a key is the 2nd step. It is easy now by use of Inet.

Posted by Gunnar M Kvifte on 23-08-2009 23:39

Unwin's key is great, I will also recommend

Oosterbroek, P. 2006. The European Families of the Diptera. Identification, diagnosis, biology. KNNV Publishing.

Posted by Paul Beuk on 24-08-2009 09:01

Unwin's key is great, BUT...

* Only usable in the UK (because several families are not inlclded and some diagnostics are based on UK species only, missing out on continental stuff that can then be misidentified).
* Outdated in some of the systematics and nomenclature.

Posted by jezlee on 24-08-2009 17:59

Thanks for your help, guys � I have since bought Oosterbroek's Guide to European Diptera Families (my bank balance is still recovering!) and downloaded a copy of Unwin's guide also, so I hope I am ready to start.

Paul, I live in Wolverhampton, in the UK, so I'm hoping that Unwin's guide will be useful to me anyway, but hopefully I now have Oosterbroek to fall back on.

I will keep you all informed how I am getting on - perhaps I will post a photo of a pinned fly and give you my identification, and see if anybody agrees with me? Or not, as the case may be! :)

Posted by jezlee on 07-09-2009 16:31

Can anybody help me any further? I have collected a specimen (a common green bottle) and, even though I happened to know the family anyway, I went through the process with Unwin and got it down to Calliphoridae, which is a good start! Now where do I go from here to attempt genus and species? Are there online keys available? :)

Posted by ChrisR on 07-09-2009 16:33

Once you have the family then (until you have built up a library) you have to ask around for key - as you are doing now ;)

Calliphoridae are a bit under-studied but Steven Falk made up his own key a while ago from other literature - a copy & paste job. If you like I can email it over to you ... not sure how comprehensive it is but it is a good start :)

EDIT: key emailed ;)

Edited by ChrisR on 07-09-2009 16:35