Thread subject: Diptera.info :: heterochelia buccata or malacomyia sciomyzina?
Posted by Finlay on 12-12-2019 16:32
#1
Found many of these on a beach in East Lothian a week ago and now have a healthy colony in my lab. This was one of the larger males collected measuring around 8mm from the start of the thorax to the end of the abdomen.
I think they are H. buccata given the time of year and the size however it appears very "coelopid like" and taxanomically M.sciomyzina are more coelopid so I wanted to check. If anyone knows any diagnostic features to differentiate between these two and/or has a good key I would be very grateful. I can take more pictures of specific features if necessary. Thanks! :)
Edited by Finlay on 12-12-2019 16:33
Posted by Finlay on 12-12-2019 16:34
#2
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Posted by Finlay on 12-12-2019 16:34
#3
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Posted by Finlay on 12-12-2019 16:35
#4
Front leg
Posted by Finlay on 12-12-2019 16:36
#5
Middle leg
Posted by Finlay on 12-12-2019 16:37
#6
rear leg
Posted by Xylosoma on 12-12-2019 16:59
#7
Its is Heterocheila buccata. It should be possible to find Malacomyia in Dezember too.
Xylo
Posted by Ectemnius on 12-12-2019 18:48
#8
Hello Finaly & Xylo,
Phylogenetically these families are very close. Coelopidae, Dryomyzidae, Heterocheilidae and Helcomyzidae belong in Sciomyzoidea. Together with Sciomyzidae and Sepsidae. The sepsid Orygma luctuosum was even classified in Coelopidae because of its similarity.
Kind regards,
Ectemnius
Posted by Tony Irwin on 12-12-2019 21:23
#9
Malacomyia has a produced mouth-edge, whereas that of
Orygma and
Heterocheila is receding. There are plenty of good images on-line (though I'd stick with those on Diptera.info which will have been checked reliably).
Posted by Finlay on 14-12-2019 15:53
#10
Amazing, thanks for all your help! :)