Thread subject: Diptera.info :: Helina species = Helina confinis

Posted by johnes81 on 09-09-2017 21:57
#1

Berlin - mid August - 6.5 mm Female

I could be wrong but I suspect this to be Helina. I have no keys to this genus. I would like to have a copy of The Muscidae of Central Europe. Meantime, I see four dots on the abdomen, so Helina quadrinotata?

PS the ovipositor (genitalia) is better than counting hairs. just ask and I'll post the ovipositor.

Edited by johnes81 on 14-09-2017 00:03

Posted by johnes81 on 09-09-2017 21:57
#2

dorsal

Posted by johnes81 on 09-09-2017 21:57
#3

microscope - thorax

Posted by johnes81 on 09-09-2017 21:58
#4

microscope - lateral

Posted by johnes81 on 12-09-2017 11:47
#5

I have found some keys from a book at Google Books. I only get a few pages of a preview. I have to apologize for my inadequate post. I see that we will need many photos of this species to be able to determine a species.

I will update this post with more adequate details. I think that we can eliminate quadrinotata. I am suspecting Helina parcepilosa is a possibility.

I will add more photos...

Edited by johnes81 on 12-09-2017 11:48

Posted by Stephane Lebrun on 12-09-2017 13:59
#6

No need to apologize. It's true Helina are difficult from picture since some details can't usually be seen (like setulae on ventral side of radial node, beneath scutellum etc).
If the arista is plumose, I would tend to say H. parcepillosa as well (I guess 4 ks).

Posted by johnes81 on 12-09-2017 17:32
#7

Hello Sir Stephane, Thank You for your Time and Expertise. I didn't realize how difficult it is to id Helina. I am sorry about my sloppy post.

I've spent some time at the microscope today. I'll post some photos now.

first photo is of the underside of the scutellum:

Posted by johnes81 on 12-09-2017 17:32
#8

lateral

Posted by johnes81 on 12-09-2017 17:33
#9

eyes are sparsely hairy, so I suppose bare fits as well.

Posted by johnes81 on 12-09-2017 17:34
#10

palpi are black. The tiip of the palpi seems pale in certain angles with strong lighting.

Posted by johnes81 on 12-09-2017 17:34
#11

ventral/underside of wings. I see a couple of places with hairs:

Posted by johnes81 on 12-09-2017 17:35
#12

fore-leg

Posted by johnes81 on 12-09-2017 17:35
#13

mid leg

Posted by johnes81 on 12-09-2017 17:36
#14

hind leg

Posted by johnes81 on 12-09-2017 17:36
#15

ovipositor

Posted by johnes81 on 12-09-2017 17:41
#16

arista are definitely plumose:

Posted by johnes81 on 12-09-2017 17:42
#17

abdomen has brown spots

Posted by johnes81 on 12-09-2017 23:09
#18

here is a better view of the ovipositor.
I find it difficult to deal with an ovipositor. sometimes my dissection is awful. I broke the end off from the ovipositor. sorry. I teach myself how to dissect, so I am not familiar with a proper procedure. at least I have photos of it :)

these are a dorsal view of the oviposior from the en of the abdomen to the tip of the ovipositor (3 photos) plus spermathecae:

Posted by johnes81 on 12-09-2017 23:10
#19

2

Posted by johnes81 on 12-09-2017 23:10
#20

3

Posted by johnes81 on 12-09-2017 23:10
#21

spermathecae

Posted by Stephane Lebrun on 13-09-2017 19:39
#22

If the radial node is setulose, it should be H. confinis.

Posted by johnes81 on 13-09-2017 20:06
#23

H. confinis is definitely listed for Berlin.

One thing: I have no idea what is the radial node?
I'm assuming you mean the base of r5 (I get this expression from Tschorsnig)
I've shown the base of r5 plus the "node at the junction of humeral crossvein and vein Sc" (I get this expression from Rognes). I have never seen "radial node" in a drawing of a wing.

Hopefully, one of these areas in my photo is the radial node (I guess the R vein means radial, thus the node is what I call 'the base of r5".) Sorry for my lack of understanding here.

I will post a photo of the areas with setae. be right back ...

Posted by johnes81 on 13-09-2017 20:10
#24

both areas with arrows have hairs

Edited by johnes81 on 13-09-2017 20:11

Posted by Stephane Lebrun on 13-09-2017 23:17
#25

Yes, radial node is the base of R4+5.

Posted by johnes81 on 14-09-2017 00:02
#26

Thank You Sir Stephane. I appreciate your Time and Expertise very much.
I will refer to the base as radial node from now on. Thank You.

Meantime, I forgot to add a photo that would've helped you more. I am sorry. I get tired at the end of a day. I noticed that the hypopleuron/meron is a critical feature for determination. The meron of this species is bare. I've added the photo to this message for clarity.

Thank You for the determination. I wish for you a Pleasant Day.