Diptera.info

Posted by Kahis on 23-05-2006 21:52

It's a tachinid, probably tribus Siphonini but not Siphona as it does not have a long proboscis. Pwrhaps Actia?

Posted by Dmitry Gavryushin on 23-05-2006 22:48

Thanks a lot Kahis,
I never met (in my Diptera-conscious time) such a small Tachinidae.

Posted by ChrisR on 23-05-2006 23:35

Definitely a tachinid. I'd kind of agree with Kahis about Actia but it might also possibly be something like Phytomyptera sp. or Paracraspedothrix montivaga. I will compare them to some specimens here and come back to you :)

Posted by ChrisR on 24-05-2006 10:58

After checking my specimens I think it is an Actia - perhaps infantula, but I can't see the katepisternum clearly enough to be sure.

Replying to Black's comments on its small size: There are several small species of tachinid in families like Actia , Phytomyptera and Paracraspedothrix. These have correspondingly small hosts, like micro-moth larvae in fungi. Of course, if the host is extra small and doesn't eat well then the resulting tachinid fly is even smaller than normal :D

Edited by ChrisR on 24-05-2006 11:12

Posted by Dmitry Gavryushin on 24-05-2006 13:44

Thanks a lot Chris,

I've just checked what on Earth that katepisternum is (with Syrphidae as an example, http://home.hccnet.nl/mp.van.veen/KEYS/bodypart.htm) and there's more lateral views available, so maybe I'll post an additional image when I'm (finally) home.

Regarding small size, now I remember recent discussion here about Tachinidae spp. size variations, yet I presume that flies of the mentioned genae are typically/invariably small...

Posted by ChrisR on 24-05-2006 18:45

Yes, if you have any additional images please send them - they are very good :) Also, if you can see a way of enlarging the katepisternum so that we can see the bristles clearly then that would help.

Thanks

Posted by Zeegers on 24-05-2006 22:01

I think it is Peribaea tibialis:

Male Actia infantula has larger third antennal segment.
It seems to be a male (?).
Moreover, the lowest sternopleural bristles seems to be thick.

Other species of Actia can be ruled out by the lack of bristles on the CU-vein.
As can very well be seen in the picture.

Theo Zeegers

Posted by ChrisR on 24-05-2006 22:53

#10

Ahhh, good work Theo - we don't have Peribaea tibialis here so I am not familiar with it. :)

Posted by Zeegers on 25-05-2006 10:30

#11

Thanks

still, a additional photo showing either the sternopleuron or the wing would be useful.
I consider the ID provisionally.

Theo

Posted by Dmitry Gavryushin on 25-05-2006 11:55

#12

Thanks again Theo and Chris,
Here's the best combined crop of lateral views I was able to make.