Thread subject: Diptera.info :: Hybotidae from Polynesia

Posted by basti_st on 22-11-2021 19:24
#5

Hi Igor, thanks for your input. I hope this picture from lateral view helps. If not, let me know and I can make more images from different angles.

The animal has definetly the modifications described and illustrated in Smith (1964). The fore coxae from the inside shows a dark spot and the modification of the fore tibia seems also to resemble the illustration in Smith. However, some of the other characteristics described for Austrodrapetis coxalis are, at least to me as a beginner in dipteran identification, not clearly given... But it probably requires a more thorough morphological examination under higher magnification, which I am currently not able to do. Is it fair to just assume that this is A. coxalis, or are we possibly looking at an undescribed, second species of this genus?
I find it extremely difficult to judge, which genera/ families show high degrees of radiation and speciation and which not. In some groups, there is a new species basically on every island in the Society Islands, even though they are only few kilometres separated, while other species seem to be widely distributed from Melanesia to Hawaii.

Best
Sebastian

Edited by basti_st on 22-11-2021 19:46