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This Platypalpus has quadriserial achrosticals. I think it must be P annulatus, but it has extensive darkening on the femora, making me doubt my determination. It is about 2.7mm length. Can anyone comment on what this is most likely to be?

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Anyone out there got an opinion on this?;)

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annulatus is a very variable beast and specimens as dark as this are found not infrequently. However, annulatus usually has very strongly annulated tarsi so I'm a bit doubtful. It looks very like melancholichus but is perhaps too small and the wings don't look dark enough. (did you catch it close to the river?)
As an afterthought, do check it carefully against notatus which often appears to have 4-serial acr.
If you are still stuck, send it to me and I'll try to det it
cheers
Adrian

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Thanks Adrian, I may well post it and a mystery Rhamphamoyia to you. You are at Cardiff Museum?

Nigel

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Hi Nigel
I'll certainly try to det it and the Rhamphomyia
the address is:-
Adrian Plant
Department of Biodiversity and Systematic Biology
National Museum of Wales
Cardiff, CF10 3NP

cheers
Adrian
ps. do you have any empid/doli records you could contribute to the recording scheme?
we currently have c 65,000 empids and 15,000 dolis so although the database is getting to be informative, more would be better