Thread subject: Diptera.info :: Diptera (adult) Melanostoma scalare

Posted by gbohne on 05-12-2017 09:50
#1

Central Germany, 180m asl., 21st May

I think it could be Anthomyzidae?

Thank you for your time!
-guido

Edited by gbohne on 07-01-2018 18:39

Posted by johnes81 on 05-12-2017 10:12
#2

Syrphidae - Melanostoma sp.
I think the green haltere are characteristic of this genus but I haven't met all of the syrphids yet. I think that Melanostoma is correct.

Posted by gbohne on 05-12-2017 10:51
#3

Wow... I've never thought of Syrphidae! Thank you very much indeed!
-guido

Posted by Paul Beuk on 05-12-2017 11:30
#4

johnes81 wrote:
Syrphidae - Melanostoma sp.
I think the green haltere are characteristic of this genus but I haven't met all of the syrphids yet.
If you check the Gallery, you will notice that most have 'ordinairy' yellow halters. I have long suspected that the green halters are a first indication of infection with Entomopthora.

Posted by gbohne on 05-12-2017 11:35
#5

That is interesting! As this female seems t be about oviposition, do you think the offspring is going to be affected by this fungi?
-guido

Posted by johnes81 on 05-12-2017 11:41
#6

Paul Beuk wrote:
If you check the Gallery, you will notice that most have 'ordinairy' yellow halters. I have long suspected that the green halters are a first indication of infection with Entomopthora.


very interesting, Paul. I actually have a specimen with green haltere but I have yet to examine it. I will look for spores or signs of infection. I didn't know that the haltere are normally yellow. I am very interested in this subject. Thank you for posting, Paul. Fantastic info here :)

Posted by Juergen Peters on 05-12-2017 17:05
#7

Hello,

I read some time ago (unfortunately I don't know where anymore). that the halteres tend to become green on mature females when eggs are being developed.

Posted by gbohne on 06-12-2017 20:18
#8

Thank you all very much for IDing. I enjoyed this fruitful discussion. I'll have an eye on green halteres oviposition and fungi-infestations. :-)

Best regards,
-guido

Posted by Stephane Lebrun on 06-12-2017 21:40
#9

This is Melanostoma scalare.

Posted by johnes81 on 07-12-2017 23:01
#10

Thanks for a species id, Stephane :)

Posted by Robert Zoralski on 01-01-2018 19:58
#11

I've seen so green halteres of Melanostoma scalare only in case of two specimens catched toegether (in one place) in USA (Seattle region) very early spring. I thought it is geo-related. I see that from Europe for the first time.

Posted by Juergen Peters on 02-01-2018 01:13
#12

Hello Robert,

Robert Zoralski wrote:
I've seen so green halteres of Melanostoma scalare only in case of two specimens catched toegether (in one place) in USA (Seattle region) very early spring. I thought it is geo-related. I see that from Europe for the first time.


here in northwest Germany I often saw/see M. scalare with green halteres over years now. In the beginning I thought it was a difference from M. mellinum.