Thread subject: Diptera.info :: Stratiomydae

Posted by Isidro on 24-06-2007 12:14
#1

Yesterday I returned to the salty marsh-land with high freatic level and dominated by Brachypodium retusum, Suaeda vera and Phragmites australis, where I photographed the Nemotelus cf. andalusiacus, Lipara sp and Ephydridae sp that I put here to identify. But yesterday was no water, only in some points was a low level of water. In one of these points was floating, dead, this pretty Stratiomydae, with a size of 4-5 mm (bigger than Nemotelus). The place is the same: Pe?aflor, Aragon, Spain.

Due to the water, the wing venation maybe is not much well seen, but I hope that can be enough to identify it.

img36.picoodle.com/img/img36/8/6/24/f_PICT1062m_1962a4c.jpg
img36.picoodle.com/img/img36/8/6/24/f_PICT1063m_972ea48.jpg

Thanks ;)

Posted by Tony Irwin on 24-06-2007 12:43
#2

It is a female Nemotelus. N.andalusiacus can be up to 7 mm long, so the size is not a problem.

Posted by Isidro on 24-06-2007 13:59
#3

Ah, OK. I saw a new post with a very siilar fly called Nemotelus pantherinus. ?Can be it?

Posted by Tony Irwin on 24-06-2007 14:58
#4

Based on the length of the facial projection, and the (apparent) presence of white spots next to the eye margin, I think yours is more likely to be andalusiacus.
Nemotelus is not an easy genus - there are 30 species in Europe; the colouration is different between males and females; and even within the same sex, the pattern can vary enormously.:(
Keep posting the pictures, though - and collect specimens! :p

Posted by Isidro on 24-06-2007 18:31
#5

Well, is exactly in the same zone that the apparently N. andalusiacus that I've seen about a month ago.(dozens and dozens, but only males). No more than this female yesterday, it was double size and different coloration and I thinked that was a different genus. My knowlegde about Diptera is increasing here! Thanks everybody!!!!!

Posted by Isidro on 08-09-2008 14:20
#6

N. andalusiacus is a synonym of N, maculiventris. Eleven more species of the genus in Spain.