Posted by jonas on 09-11-2018 19:35
#4
Gordon wrote:
Hi, I have an opportunity to do some voluntary work with CEI (Cambodian Entomological Initiative) One entomologist and some students. Anyway I have offered to sort the diptera to family a bit and have a look at the Sciomyzidae, and a few other larger bodied families. So I am asking about keys, are there any for Asia. Also it might be useful to have a key to families, is there anything better for SE Asia than Oosterbroek?
Hello!
You are lucky - Cambodia is probably the most interesting country in the entire Oriental region to look for Sciomyzidae! From Cambodia, not a single specimen of Sciomyzidae is known (after checking over 60 museum collections already). This is, of course, an enormous black spot on our maps.
Unlucky for you, no keys are existant to identify Scio's from the Oriental, so you need to gather many publications and wrestle through the many synonyms and inadequate descriptions.
On the bright side: Kumar Ghorpade and myself are finishing the work of Lloyd Knutson (recently deceased, unfortunately): this publication covering Sciomyzidae from the Oriental region, giving keys, pictures, new synonyms, plenty undescribed species, phenology, biology.... It was always intented to publish by august 2019.
Anyhow... I would be happy to help you wherever I can :) Although I have no idea about SEAsian diptera families. Feel free to contact me about Scio :-)
Sounds like a nice project,
good luck.
Jonas