Thread subject: Diptera.info :: Anthomyzidae species?

Posted by empeejay on 14-06-2006 13:25
#1

Swept from oak foliage hanging over a ditch at Potter Heigham, Norfolk, England on 17 May 1990. Body length about 1.3mm.

Posted by empeejay on 14-06-2006 13:26
#2

Head & thorax, dorsal view.

Posted by empeejay on 14-06-2006 13:27
#3

And finally, the face. Sorry for the poor quality but it is very small!

Posted by empeejay on 14-06-2006 13:29
#4

Sorry, forget to attach the picture again.

Posted by Paul Beuk on 14-06-2006 13:42
#5

I would like to have confirmation on this, but I think it maybe the genus Aphaniosoma of the family Chyromyidae. Tricky, as the species of Chyromyidae usually are largely yellowish...

Posted by empeejay on 15-06-2006 13:56
#6

Thanks Paul, you're absolutely right. After all these years I realise where I had been going wrong. Chyromyidae have the subcostal vein complete , separate from R1 and ending in the costa. It doesn't appear that way from my specimen, probably because of distortion after drying and the fact it's so small.
Using the key to British Aphaniosoma it would be either socium or melitensis, which are best separated by the structure of tergite 4 of the male. I can see no trace of any projections, although the abdomen is a bit shriveled. Also melitensis is said to have yellow on the scutum & scutellum, which is absent in my specimen. So socium is the most likely candidate.

Thanks again,

Michael