Thread subject: Diptera.info :: All Sphaeroceridae?

Posted by Juergen Peters on 10-01-2007 09:45
#1

Hello, forum!

Are these two tiny flies (pic 2 and 3 should be same species) all Sphaeroceridae? No. 1 was about 2 mm long, no. 2/3 only slightly larger. Most obvious difference: clear resp. shaded wings.

www.foto-upload.de/diptera/070109/Sphaeroceridae_spp_2mm.jpg

www.foto-upload.de/diptera/070109/Sphaeroceridae_spp_3mm_1.jpg
www.foto-upload.de/diptera/070109/Sphaeroceridae_spp_3mm_2.jpg

Posted by crex on 10-01-2007 11:47
#2

The dull dark grey thorax and M on head I believe is characteristic for some genus. I would have searched the forum for it, but diptera.info is so incredibly slow these days.

Posted by crex on 10-01-2007 12:59
#3

I think the last two are Desmometopa sp (Milichiidae).

Posted by Nikita Vikhrev on 10-01-2007 13:33
#4

No, the last two is Sphaeroceridae.
The first one isn't Sphaeroceridae.
Nikita

Posted by Juergen Peters on 11-01-2007 01:59
#5

Hello, crex and Nikita!

Nikita Vikhrev wrote:
No, the last two is Sphaeroceridae.
The first one isn't Sphaeroceridae.


Thanks! The more often I watched the first photo, the more I also had come to the conclusion that that fly must belong to another family. But which one???

Posted by Paul Beuk on 11-01-2007 09:16
#6

The top one might well be a species of the Drosophila obscure group.

Posted by crex on 11-01-2007 11:56
#7

Nikita Vikhrev wrote:
No, the last two is Sphaeroceridae. The first one isn't Sphaeroceridae.
Nikita


How do one see the difference between Desmometopa (Milichiidae) and Sphaeroceridae? The only thing I can come up with is the scutellum seems more elongated on the latter. They both are small blackish and have dark thorax with contrasting grey hairs, long arista etc.

Posted by Juergen Peters on 11-01-2007 11:59
#8

Hello, Paul!

Paul Beuk wrote:
The top one might well be a species of the Drosophila obscure group.


Interesting! It reminded me of Drosophilidae from the general habitus, but I had never seen such a dark member of that family (the D. subobscura in the gallery doesn't seem so black).

Posted by Paul Beuk on 11-01-2007 14:11
#9

Lateral and dorsal view may make a difference in how 'light' and 'dark' are perceived. There appears to be some clouding near the apex of R2+3, so it might be D. obsucra itself.