Thread subject: Diptera.info :: Male Pollenia species?

Posted by johnes81 on 08-01-2018 13:08
#7

conjecture is not a scientific answer, so genitalia is the only accurate way to id many species of Pollenia. Dr. Rognes is the authority of this genus and Calliphoridae family. Dr. Rognes has made many publications available online. You can learn best from Dr. Rognes.

http://www.knut-rognes.no/PublicationsInZoology.html

I have added a photo of P. pediculata to the gallery which shows the bundle of pale hairs on the underside of the wing: https://diptera.info/photogallery.php?photo_id=10761

rudis will have black vestiture on the abdomen, front and hind femora. P. angustigena has golden yellow vestiture. You need clear photos of all of the legs. the pv of the front femora of many species is very helpful.

some people think that all Pollenia require genitalia but this isn't true. several species can be easily identified by photo if the useful features are visible. for example, vagabunda, mayeri, atramentaria and amentaria. The rudis group is difficult. The head in profile view can be helpful. Still, the rudis group typically requires genitalia.

I cannot see golden vestiture but the photos are not large enough to be sure. The hairs are not always obvious. The head reminds me most of rudis and if the vestiture is indeed black, then you probably have a male rudis in this photo. I cannot see the legs well enough to eliminate angustigena and pediculata. hungarica is near impossible to separate from rudis.

In Germany, I find rudis more often at my residence than other Pollenia species.