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Hallo again!

in my simple mind the attached photo is a Drosophila, but I did not found it in the Gallery in that family.

I took the photo today in Southern Germany (near Rottweil), on a dead Picea abies. On that at the side there were some polypores of the last year, I guess. On the underside of those polypores there was a dense net of hyphae or spider web, and on that the fly was looking for something --- to eat, I guess. So in the original state the fly is head down.

Perhaps sombody can tell me the species.
Many thanks,

Siga

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I would also make a drosophilid of this one. Looks like Leucophenga cf. maculata.

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Thanks, the photos in the Gallery show a great variety. There are still 3 questions.

1. what does cf in the name mean?
2. Can one tell, whether it is male or female?
3. Does it possibly eat on the hyphae?

Perhaps sombody can tell.
Thanks, Siga

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1. cf means that the species is conspecific with a species similar to (in this case) Leucophenga maculata but is not positively identified as L. maculata. So what I mean to say is that I think it is L. maculata but I'm not entirely sure.
2. If we could see the tip of the abdomen better, it would be easy to tell if it is a male or female. I think it is a female, but I'm again not entirely sure. I don't have any literature at hand now, but it is possible that there is sexual dimorfism in this species, in which case ther would be other characters indicating if you are dealing with a male or female.
3. If I recall well L. maculata has been reared from reared from fungi (fruiting bodies of fungi).

Maybe someone else can give you more definitive information.

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I just read that the scutum of the male of L. maculata is blackish and, seen from the front, silvery-white. The scutum of the female is yellowish-brown. So it is indeed a female. I also read that there are many records of L. maculata being reared from mushrooms.

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Thanks for the detailed answers. A lot of learning for me.

Greetings,
Siga

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Ja, Jan was absolutely right about the sex - males have silver thorax, indeed, but it is better seen in frontal view (and the cuticle is black in males). I'd say, the abdomen shape is more typical for females, too. I am unaware about any similar Leucophenga in West Europe.

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very late answer from me, but many thanks nevertheless :)

Siga