---

Hi,
I have collected a Platypezid that looks very similar to the Polyporivora ornata in the gallery on this site. In the UK we only have two species of Polyporivora - P. ornata and P picta, but I don't have Chandler's (expensive:() key work. Can anyone say how to tell these two species apart?

Thanks
Nigel Jones

---

Hi Nigel,

According to Chandler (2001):

Males:
- Wing with membrane brownish yellow tinted; cell cup very long, 3,5 x length of A1+CuA2 beyond it. => Polyporivora picta
- Wing clear, with only cell sc faintly yellowish; cell cup shorter, 2-3 x length of vein A1+CuA2 beyond it => Polyporivora ornata

Females:
- Thorax with a broad black median stripe reaching scutellum, which is also mainly black above. Abdomen with T2 often bearing a pair of small grey spots dorsally; T3-5 with triangular black basal markings, that on T3 extended to hind margin => Polyporivora picta
- Thorax with dark median stripe narrowed behind and ending well short of scutellum, fused in front with lateral dark markings to form tridentate pattern; scutellum without black marking. Abdomen with T2 entirely black dorsally, T3 broadly black in middle dorsally and T4-5 with basal black bands => Polyporivora ornata


Jan Willem

---

Many thanks Jan. I'll check my specimen in the morning.:)

---

I have decided to invest in the book - ?70! But, my what an impressive book it is. Now I just need to find some more Platypezids!;)