Thread subject: Diptera.info :: Translation of Zetterstedt's original description of Odinia boletina/ornata

Posted by viktor j nilsson on 17-04-2010 18:01
#1

Hi y'all,
I would love to get some help with my latin.

The identity of Odinia boletina Zett./ ornata Zett. has been up for discussion several times in the forum.
Jere Kahanpää has been telling us tha "ornata is the larger species with darkened crossvein and two equally strong bristles at the apex of the mid tibia" and "boletina is the smaller species with completely clear wings and unequally stron tibial bristles".

Since I am deeply fascinated by Joh. Wilh. Zetterstedt and also by Odiniids, I've went to check his original description of O.boletina (As Milichia boletina, in Diptera Scandinaviaevol. 7, p.2721 [1848]). I have come to think that part of the confusion between these two species stems from someone misunderstanding the last part of the description, where O.boletina is compared to O. ornata. If this is taken as a description of O.ornata as opposed to boletina (which it really looks like if you look at the text superficially), confusion reigns. Otherwise, I think it is a pretty clear diagnosis supporting Jere's interpretations. Of course, someone should look at the Zetterstedt types, but I'd be a bit suprised if the description above doesn't match Zetterstedt's interpretation.

My rough translation is as follows - please help me correct it!

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3. M. Boletina: [head?] grey, epistoma white throughout length; antennae yellow, basal segments and spot on the top [of third segment] completely black; palpi and legs yellow, the latter with brown spotting; abdomen with 6 brown spots; wings clear, unspotted, black costal spot at tht apex of subcostal vein.
----- Dwells on mushrooms and on the trunks of living Populus tremula in Sweden not frequent in the middle of July; evidently I found 2 males and as many females in Östrogothia at Lärketorp and at Wadstena; in Gottlandia I have also caught male specimens (Prof Sahlberg has also communicated records from E Finland).

M. ornata is very similar, but [M. boletina is] constantly twice smaller or less, and the transverse nerves differs in not being infuscated [in M. boletina]. Wings are clear, veins almost unpigmented, with only minute black spots at the crossing of the subcostal and costal veins. Rest of the body exactly as in M. ornata. Eyes in life reddish with coppery shine, in the middle with a purple transverse band.

[EDIT]Updated according to Stephen R's comments

Edited by viktor j nilsson on 21-04-2010 21:49