Thread subject: Diptera.info :: Conopidae

Posted by Isidro on 25-08-2008 12:39
#1

Conops usally are impossible to identify, at least in this forum... The last one is unnamed. Maybe this one have more good luck.

Last Saturday. Mezalocha, Monegros region, Aragon, NE Spain. Habitat: dry steppe-lands, fields.

img32.picoodle.com/data/img32/3/8/25/f_P1011574m_1e2ad9b.jpg

img32.picoodle.com/data/img32/3/8/25/f_P1011576m_4fe337e.jpg

img32.picoodle.com/data/img32/3/8/25/f_P1011577m_83e9c12.jpg

Can be identified?
Thanks.
Regards

Posted by jorgemotalmeida on 25-08-2008 12:42
#2

WOW! :| It seems a Conops . I never seen anything like this one.

Posted by Isidro on 25-08-2008 12:47
#3

I tried to catch it for you, but it don't let me :(

Posted by David Clements on 25-08-2008 13:55
#4

I would guess that this is either Leopoldius calceatus or Abrachyglossum capitatum, but it's difficult to be sure because the head is not in focus - I would need to see the ocellar tubercle, and whether or not there were fine hairs on the upper surface of the third antennal segment. The two species are rather similar, and this specimen exhibits other characters which are somewhat intermediate, so I can't be sure - but if I was asked to guess, I would say calceatus.

Posted by jorgemotalmeida on 25-08-2008 14:11
#5

David, the proboscis is very conspicuous! :|

Posted by David Clements on 25-08-2008 14:43
#6

Indeed it is. However, calceatus is unusual amongst Leopoldius in having short but strong and sclerotised probiscis up to about the width of the head (but usually somewhat less) - that of Abrachyglossum is somewhat longer again, which is one of the reasons why I am uncertain. However, I am pretty sure it is one of these two species, and the degree of banding on the wing makes me think its more likely calceatus.

Posted by jorgemotalmeida on 25-08-2008 14:51
#7

one exception :) I didn't know about this one. thanks. So Abrachyglossum is very similar to Leopoldius genus... I thought that was very different among the other conopids.

Posted by David Clements on 25-08-2008 15:03
#8

On the other hand, another possibility is Conops insignis.... Really, it needs a sharp photo of the head to be sure.

Posted by Isidro on 25-08-2008 15:05
#9

Then, I let is as Impossibilis conopidus. Thanks a lot David and Jorge.

(Any of the three species mentioned is cited from Monegros region).

Posted by Isidro on 09-09-2008 09:16
#10

In Spain are cited both Abrachyglossum capitatum as Conops insignis. But not cited Leopoldius calceatus. This makes different the guesses?

Posted by Guenter on 12-09-2008 19:37
#11

David, if the thing I've marked in the photo is the proboscis (and I've counted 6 legs apart from that thing, but maybe I'm still wrong) then I have to agree with Jorge that the proboscis is VERY conspicious.
According to Chv?la (1961) in Abrachyglossum the proboscis is "strong, shorter or at most about the same lenght as the head", and in Leopoldius "short and fleshy, usually concealed in mouth cavity", and so in my opinion it must be a Conops.

Posted by Isidro on 13-09-2008 19:33
#12

Thanks a lot G?nter. Then I'll let it as Conops insignis, with many doubts.

Posted by David Clements on 16-09-2008 18:15
#13

I don't think I saw this photo before, or I would never have suggested Leopoldius, or Abrachyglossum! Perhaps I just wasn't looking! Anyway, certainly looks like Conops insignis to me.