Diptera.info

Posted by Juergen Peters on 14-02-2011 20:11

Hello!

Is this 3 mm fly from the forest border today (northwest Germany) Earomyia lonchaeoides again? I never found that species before March, yet.

P.S.: First Syrphid 2011 this afternoon here (slightly cloudy, 6.5 �C), an Eristalis tenax female.

Edited by Juergen Peters on 03-03-2011 18:45

Posted by Juergen Peters on 02-03-2011 22:42

Hello!

Today (sunny, but only 2.5 �C) these flies were numerous at several places on tree trunks and fence stakes. Here are some better (at least better than those above...) pics from this afternoon: http://insektenfo...adid=40280

Posted by Iain MacGowan on 03-03-2011 17:22

#10

Hi Juergen

Having looked at the additional photographs I am still sure that these are specimens of Earomyia lonchaeoides. As with most Lonchaeidae ecological information is sparse so many thanks for your observations and temperature readings which I find very useful. If you have the time could you perhaps collect a few for me - we dont have any in our collections as it is not recorded in Britain
best wishes ....... Iain

Posted by Juergen Peters on 03-03-2011 18:45

#11

Iain MacGowan wrote:
Having looked at the additional photographs I am still sure that these are specimens of Earomyia lonchaeoides. As with most Lonchaeidae ecological information is sparse so many thanks for your observations and temperature readings which I find very useful. If you have the time could you perhaps collect a few for me - we dont have any in our collections as it is not recorded in Britain

Thanks, Iain. As I am not experienced in collecting (I personally don't like to kill animals - even insects -. but I accept that it is necessary for scientific purposes): How do I accomplish that? Should I put the specimens directly into alcohol (in the field, in a small bottle)?
I had caught some small true bugs for a heteropterologist some years ago. He advised me to put them into the freezer for conservating (I did not send them immediately, had to accumulate several specimens for some weeks).

Posted by Iain MacGowan on 04-03-2011 11:40

#12

Hi Juergen
I do appreciate your hesitation at killing animals, but unfortunately with small black flies there is at present no alternative. As most Dipterists are still in hibernation at this time of year there is always a chance that there may be an overlooked species involved. If you could put some specimens in a small bottle of alcohol in the field this would be greatly appreciated - I imagine that they would not be too difficult to catch at low temperaturres, 6-8 would be a good sample size and they could all be taken at once if you wish. You can e-mail me direct at iain.macgowan@snh.gov.uk
best wishes and good hunting ....... Iain

Posted by Juergen Peters on 04-03-2011 19:23

#13

Hello, Iain!

Iain MacGowan wrote:
If you could put some specimens in a small bottle of alcohol in the field this would be greatly appreciated - I imagine that they would not be too difficult to catch at low temperaturres, 6-8 would be a good sample size and they could all be taken at once if you wish.

Today I saw only one single specimen in over 2 m height at a tree, and I had no appropriate bottle at hand. I hope, there will be still some of them present next week.

Posted by Juergen Peters on 08-03-2011 22:46

#14

Hello!

Again no luck today (sunny, but very windy).

@Paul: I have submitted some photos to the gallery, but too late I noticed that the family was reset after the first pic. So several of them were submitted to family Acartopthalmidae :|.