Diptera.info

Posted by Juergen Peters on 25-08-2007 22:21

Hello!

I have the impression that Calliphora vomitoria is more numerous in relation to the ubiquitous C. vicina here in Ostwestfalen/Germany this year. I find her rather often on umbelliferous flowers in the forest recently, attracting my attention from a distance because of being considerably bigger and appearing darker. Is it possible that this species is more restricted to woodland than C. vicina, which I find almost everywhere?

Addtional pics:
http://www.foto-u...ria_W3.jpg
http://www.foto-u...ria_W4.jpg

And two postings (in German) with more pictures:
http://insektenfo...eadid=9964
http://insektenfo...eadid=9279

Edited by Juergen Peters on 25-08-2007 22:21

Posted by Susan R Walter on 26-08-2007 13:38

According to the draft key by Falk that Chris forwarded to me recently, C vomitoria is not so strongly inclined to live in close association with man as C vicina. It becomes the dominant species in upland areas in the north especially in moorland sheep raising areas, and is more of a woodland species in the south of the UK, suggesting that it prefers cooler environments. It also prefers larger carcasses, presumably because its larvae develop more slowly than C vicina. See also Species composition and larval habitats of blowfly (Calliphoridae) populations in upland areas of England and Wales by l Davies in Medical and Veterinary Entomology (1990) 4, 61-88 (many thanks to John Bratton for sending me this article).

Juergen this is quite a useful series of photos. Could you upload the second of your links (the one looking straight at the face) to the gallery please?

Edited by Susan R Walter on 26-08-2007 13:42

Posted by Juergen Peters on 26-08-2007 17:11

Hello, Susan!

Many thanks for your explanations! They match my observations.

Juergen this is quite a useful series of photos. Could you upload the second of your links (the one looking straight at the face) to the gallery please?

I will try it later. I have never before uploaded a pic to the gallery. Previously my photos were too bad with my old camera, now I have so many pictures of flies that I couldn't decide yet, which of them to upload ;) (of species not there already). I must admit that the first photo I had considered to upload was one of a male Calliphora vomitoria:
http://www.dipter...ad_id=4957
My first halfway good picture of that species...

Posted by Susan R Walter on 27-08-2007 08:31

Juergen

Yes - do upload that one as well - it shows quite well the enfuscation of the squamae, with the lower one very dark with a very narrow very white edge. Vicina has a broad white edge, so this feature can be useful when you don't have such a good view of the face. (Beware loewi and uralensis if in this situation of course.)

Posted by Juergen Peters on 27-08-2007 17:38

Hello, Susan!

Susan R Walter wrote:
Yes - do upload that one as well - it shows quite well the enfuscation of the squamae, with the lower one very dark with a very narrow very white edge. Vicina has a broad white edge, so this feature can be useful when you don't have such a good view of the face. (Beware loewi and uralensis if in this situation of course.)

I will search my photos for some other halfway succeeded pics of diptera, which are not in the gallery yet, and upload them together in the next days.