Posted by Stephen on 05-11-2006 12:59
#1
What is the proper way to measure the length of a fly?
I have been measuring from the front of the eyes to the rear wingtips. Thus I don't measure the antennae, nor any of the abdomen that sticks out from under the wings.
Sometimes I wonder if it wouldn't be better to measure to the rear of the abdomen, but in many photos the abdomen is completely hidden by the wings.
Posted by Tony Irwin on 05-11-2006 13:10
#2
Front of head (excluding antennae) to tip of abdomen (excluding wings) is the way that I would do it.
Posted by Paul Beuk on 05-11-2006 20:15
#3
And almost everyone else, I imagine.
Posted by Stephen on 05-11-2006 21:45
#4
Tony, Paul, Thanks for answering my question. I'll start measuring that way consistently, though on a dorsal view where the abdomen isn't visible I'll have to state that the measurement is to the rear of the wings.