Posted by Cranefly on 13-01-2010 11:20
#1
This photo was sent me from Ukraine, greenhouse with Pleurotes fungi. No end of abdomen. Looks like Chonocephalus? Please help! They want to struggle against this fly, but possibly it is predatory or parasitic?
Edited by Cranefly on 24-01-2010 08:53
Posted by Paul Beuk on 13-01-2010 12:22
#2
Chonocephalus is correct. I cannot tell which species. There is a revision of the Holartic species in Zootax but that issue is not open access. This is from the title page:
The tiny scuttle flies of the genus Chonocephalus Wandolleck are noted for their sexual dimorphism, with the females being flightless but the males being normally winged. Many species breed in ripe fruits, while some exploit other sources of fermenting detritus or plant material, and the males transport females to suitable larval pabula during nuptial flights (Disney, 1994).
(
http://www.mapres...00060f.pdf)
IMO they are no threat to the culture but rather an indication that something was already wrong in the culture, leading to rotting fungi allowing the phorids to breed.