Thread subject: Diptera.info :: Any ideas on this one ?
Posted by LordV on 25-07-2006 17:46
#1
Fly with a very long proboscis but doesn't look to me like a dancefly. Taken today South Coast UK body about 7mm long.
Thanks
Brian V.
Posted by Dmitry Gavryushin on 25-07-2006 18:35
#2
Hello Brian,
Please compare with
http://www.dipter...ad_id=2398
Edited by Dmitry Gavryushin on 25-07-2006 18:36
Posted by LordV on 26-07-2006 07:59
#3
Thanks Black,
does look similar :)
Brian V.
Posted by ChrisR on 26-07-2006 10:27
#4
noooooooooooo, no, no, no, no :o Sorry, not
Prosena siberita this time. This fly a tachinid but it is much smaller, no plumose arista and the proboscis is hinged - not straight. This looks like
Siphona geniculata (or one of the other
Siphona species - but they are very hard to split even with a specimen) :D
Posted by LordV on 26-07-2006 12:26
#5
Thanks Chris but just to show my complete ignorance what is/are plumose arista ? ;)
Name seems very appropriate .
Brian V.
Posted by crex on 26-07-2006 12:41
#6
LordV wrote:
... what is/are plumose arista ?
Arista in the glossary ... and I think plumose is feather-like.
Edited by crex on 26-07-2006 12:45
Posted by ChrisR on 26-07-2006 12:54
#7
crex is right ... the arista is a hair-like structure that points forward and down, emerging from the top of the 3rd antennal segment (usually the biggest bit). Plumose means 'plume or feather shaped'.
Prosena has a very plumose arista, which is quite an unusual characteristic in the tachinids but
Siphona have bare aristas. But the giveaway really is that
Prosena has a long, rigid proboscis and
Siphona has a proboscis bent into 3 clear sections :)
Posted by LordV on 26-07-2006 14:01
#8
Thanks again :)- gradually learning ;)
Brian V.