Thread subject: Diptera.info :: Syrphidae - Ceriana vespiformis

Posted by jorgemotalmeida on 26-08-2007 00:50
#1

Hi

* locality - Silgueiros - Viseu - PORTUGAL
* date - 2007.08.24
* size - 6 mm (medium fly)
* habitat - open land
* substrate - on Mentha sp. flower

Is this fly a male?

This Conops seems to have much fewer yellow comparing with the Conops flavipes. And it has wings with spots..
The transition between the head and thorax is unusual. :s



EDIT----> Title changed from "Another (strange) Conopidae - Conops ??" to "Syrphidae - Ceriana conopsoides" and then to "Syrphidae - Ceriana vespiformis"

Edited by jorgemotalmeida on 26-08-2007 11:51

Posted by jorgemotalmeida on 26-08-2007 00:53
#2

this must be a new conops!

Posted by jorgemotalmeida on 26-08-2007 00:58
#3

another view..

Posted by jorgemotalmeida on 26-08-2007 01:01
#4

another view...

Posted by jorgemotalmeida on 26-08-2007 01:09
#5

not good.. (blurry)
but the head is very similar to Chrysotoxum intermedium (Syrphidae)! :|

See a photo taken by myself here for compare the two :
http://www.flickr...402&size=l

>> Chrysotoxum intermedium in the first photo
>> Conops ?? in the second photo

farm1.static.flickr.com/100/286860402_44589228d3.jpg

Posted by Zeegers on 26-08-2007 09:31
#6

Congratulations, Jorge, you fell into a familiar pitfall

It's Ceriana conopsoides (or another Ceriana) in the family Syrphidae.

There is a reason why it's called conopsoides !!

Look at the antennae, they are implanted on a bizarre conical projection of the forehead. Unique.


Theo

Posted by jorgemotalmeida on 26-08-2007 10:29
#7

oh... no. great mimics with Conopidae! Really I thought this was strange for conopid... :S

It seems that this is rare.. :)

Posted by jorgemotalmeida on 26-08-2007 10:34
#8

I was blind because I didn't take a look to wing venation!!! :| Typical wing venation for Syrphidae!! This is the best mimics between 2 families (Syrphidae <> Conopidae) I've seen so far.


Really the names fits very well: conopsoides -- similiar to Conops. :S

Thanks, Theo! More one for the gallery. :)

Edited by jorgemotalmeida on 26-08-2007 10:37

Posted by jorgemotalmeida on 26-08-2007 10:37
#9

John Smit found one as well. :)
it seems that Syrphidae gallery grew up very fast!

Posted by Alvesgaspar on 26-08-2007 11:08
#10

I agree it is Ceriana conopsoides. I took some photos of another one in Lisbon, Portugal.

Joaquim Gaspar
Lisbon

Posted by Stephane Lebrun on 26-08-2007 11:16
#11

Hello,
I agree with Ceriana, but no with conopsoides. Entirely yellow scutellum and mostly yellow femora indicate Ceriana vespiformis.

Greetings.

Posted by Zeegers on 26-08-2007 11:40
#12

HI Stephane,

You are most probably right. I had a disclaimer formulated on the species level, to lazy to get to my books.
The colouration on the scutellum is crucial, yellow either bicolor, but I can't remember it by heart.

Theo

Posted by Zeegers on 26-08-2007 11:43
#13

I just checked the gallery, Stephane is completely right:

This is a male C. vespiformis.

Most common species on the Iberian peninsula.


Theo

Posted by jorgemotalmeida on 26-08-2007 11:51
#14

Thanks to all. Really this fly cheated me!