Diptera.info

Posted by jorgemotalmeida on 23-08-2007 18:32

Hi flyforum!

* locality - Silgueiros - Viseu - PORTUGAL
* date - 2007.08.23
* size - 4 mm (small fly)
* habitat - open land
* substrate - on flower (Taraxacum group)

Spectacular conopid! Very, very cryptic! Awesome conopid! :)

I think this is Thecophora sp. Do you agree? The cell anal is long comparing with other conopids like Myopa. The body is almost black.

EDIT---> Title changed from "Spectacular Thecophora! Very cryptic. (Conopidae)" to "Conopidae - Thecophora cf. atra"

Edited by jorgemotalmeida on 23-08-2007 23:18

Posted by cosmln on 23-08-2007 18:51

Hi Jorge,

i really don't know anything about that conopid.
but i'm not agree with that flower identification. can't be Taraxacum or something similar because that is not even from Asteraceae family. for me from the detail i see that is probably some kind of Hypericum.

but this will not help you to identify flower,
cosmln

Posted by jorgemotalmeida on 23-08-2007 18:54

no, cosmnl! This fly is above ANOTHER FLOWER! :)
I caught the fly in another flower - that belong to the Taraxacum group. I know it well. :)

But thanks, cosmnl, because I didnt know this flower where the fly is on when I shot this beautiful conopid. :)

Edited by jorgemotalmeida on 23-08-2007 18:56

Posted by cosmln on 23-08-2007 19:17

jorgemotalmeida wrote:
no, cosmnl! This fly is above ANOTHER FLOWER! :)
I caught the fly in another flower - that belong to the Taraxacum group. I know it well. :)

But thanks, cosmnl, because I didnt know this flower where the fly is on when I shot this beautiful conopid. :)

so this flower from the photo is not the original flower.
k... sorry.

cosmln

Posted by jorgemotalmeida on 23-08-2007 19:22

yep. the fly was above Taraxacum group flower and then I put the fly in other flower - the Hypericum sp.(?). :)

DOn't worry. I forgive you. :) lol

Posted by jorgemotalmeida on 23-08-2007 19:25

This fly is cryptic due the small size and the fact that the fly is very quiet on flower. But easily fly over when it is disturbed even gently. :(

Posted by cosmln on 23-08-2007 19:27

jorgemotalmeida wrote:
yep. the fly was above Taraxacum group flower and then I put the fly in other flower - the Hypericum sp.(?). :)

DOn't worry. I forgive you. :) lol

hihi
thank you

if you have a photo with more from that plant maybe i will be more sure :) if the case you can send that via e-mail (cosminovidiu(a)yahoodotcom). not large resolution needed just more large part of that plant.

cosmln

Posted by jorgemotalmeida on 23-08-2007 19:40

#10

ok. I will do that. But not for now. :) (perhaps in next week. :)

Thanks.

Let?s go wait for confirmation for this conopid. Could it be T. atra?..

Posted by Zeegers on 23-08-2007 19:57

#11

Yes, it's Thecophora and it could be atra.
Very difficult group, reliable ID on female (! yes female) genitalia only.

Theo

Posted by Zeegers on 26-08-2007 08:35

#14

It's a male

[ according to statistics, 50 % chance.
According to Murphy's law, 100 % .....]

Theo

Posted by jorgemotalmeida on 26-08-2007 10:53

#15

:) So, which are the other strong possibilities besides T. atra for this conopid?