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Hi all,
My name is Rory Mc Donnell and I m a postdoc at University of California, Riverside working on the biology and biological control potential of slug-killing sciomyzid flies. A fundamental aspect of my work here at UCR is to import these sciomyzids into quarantine from other states within the US and from Europe so that I can elucidate their life history and other aspects of their biology. After a long wait my USDA-APHIS import permits arrived last week. Now I really need to get specimens of these slug-killing flies - Tetanocera elata, Euthycera cribrata, E. stichospila and E. chaerophylli from Europe and Tetanocera plebeia, T. clara and T. valida from the U.S. The reason I am posting this message is to enquire whether anybody would be willing to provide specimens for my research. If any of you have a collecting trip planned over the coming weeks, I would very much appreciate it if you would keep an eye opened for these flies and send me any live specimens you collect. I am relying on colleagues to provide specimens for me so hopefully you may be able to help me out.
For those who can help I can send you photos of specimens, details on packing instructions, etc and I can scan a copy of the permit to you to stick on the shipment so it will pass through customs without any problems. I would really appreciate any help you could provide in this matter.
I look forward to hearing from you.

Rory

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Hi Rory.
Around my house in Moscow region Tetanocera elata was rather common in may-june. 5 days ago I still met a fly (image added), but it seems (wings condition) that it is old fly.
And it is always the problem to be sure it is not T. phyllophora.
Nikita