Thread subject: Diptera.info :: Unknown family (yellow halteres) ID > Dioctria?

Posted by Jeroen K on 15-07-2010 17:12
#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 18:48

Posted by Jeroen K on 15-07-2010 17:13
#2

Specimen 1 - picture 2:

Posted by Jeroen K on 15-07-2010 17:13
#3

Specimen 2:

Edited by Jeroen K on 15-07-2010 17:16

Posted by ChrisR on 15-07-2010 17:44
#4

Looks like Dioctria - Asilidae :)

Posted by Sundew on 15-07-2010 17:56
#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 17:59
#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 18:00

Posted by ChrisR on 15-07-2010 18:47
#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 18:53
#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 19:46
#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 19:47