Thread subject: Diptera.info :: Unknown family (yellow halteres) ID > Dioctria?
Posted by Jeroen K on 15-07-2010 16:12
#1
I found this two little flies (length: 12 mm) in my garden, Kapellen, Belgium. I think they are the same species, but I am not entirely sure. Never seen anything similar before. Yellow halteres, reddish-brown spot at both sides of the abdomen. More pictures and specimen available if needed. Thanks in advance.
Specimen 1 - picture 1:
Edited by Jeroen K on 15-07-2010 17:48
Posted by Jeroen K on 15-07-2010 16:13
#2
Specimen 1 - picture 2:
Posted by Jeroen K on 15-07-2010 16:13
#3
Specimen 2:
Edited by Jeroen K on 15-07-2010 16:16
Posted by ChrisR on 15-07-2010 16:44
#4
Looks like
Dioctria - Asilidae :)
Posted by Sundew on 15-07-2010 16:56
#5
The reddish side spot is the result of the egg-swollen abdomen of this female. I go for
Dioctria, too.
Posted by Jeroen K on 15-07-2010 16:59
#6
Thank you both! Any chance to identify the species? I will also try the key I found
here, but I know very little about
Diptera (I only became recently interested), so maybe I will overlook some details.
Edited by Jeroen K on 15-07-2010 17:00
Posted by ChrisR on 15-07-2010 17:47
#7
Off the top of my head I can't remember all the keying features but I think it boils down to leg colour/patterns (you could look through the Asilidae section in the Gallery). One of the asilid experts will be along soon though - just change the title to read 'Dioctria?' or something like that to draw them in :)
Posted by Sundew on 15-07-2010 17:53
#8
Leg colouration is very variable at least in
Dioctria hyalipennis, a frequent species. The key focuses on the lateral thorax and the tomentum pattern seen there. Unfortunately, your lateral shot does not show that, it is too dark.
Posted by Jeroen K on 15-07-2010 18:46
#9
Thanks for the hint, Chris, I changed the title. I already took a look at the Gallery, but I could only eliminate
D. oelandica, which leaves 8 species* (
linearis,
cothurnata,
hyalipennis,
atricapilla,
bicincta,
lateralis,
longicornis,
rufipes). Sundew, I tried to make a close up of the lateral thorax through a looking glass, but I'm a really bad photographer. Here's my try...
*according to the list on Waarnemingen.be (Belgian website for nature observations)
Edited by Jeroen K on 15-07-2010 18:47