Thread subject: Diptera.info :: Larger Bracycera - but which family?
Posted by ChrisR on 07-05-2009 20:21
#1
Another French Guianan fly but which family does it belong to? Body length 14mm.
It looks similar to the
Pangonius sp. I found earlier but on this specimen the proboscis is hinged under the body. Acroceridae?
Edited by ChrisR on 07-05-2009 20:28
Posted by ChrisR on 07-05-2009 20:22
#2
another angle...
Posted by ChrisR on 07-05-2009 20:22
#3
another angle...
Posted by Paul Beuk on 07-05-2009 21:04
#4
Nemestrinidae
Posted by ChrisR on 07-05-2009 21:15
#5
Ahhhhhhhhhhh - that's a name that rings a bell - thanks Paul, much appreciated. I had one from that family a while ago and completely forgot which family it turned out to be :)
Posted by Zeegers on 08-05-2009 09:20
#6
Definitely not Tabanidae, and Nemestrinidae was my guess as well. So that makes two of us
Theo
Posted by ChrisR on 08-05-2009 10:51
#7
They do look rather nice ... I am thinking of also working on neotropical Nemestrinidae, Acroceridae and Panthopthalmidae. They seem to be sufficiently small families and someone might have done some work on them as nemestrinids and acrocerids are parasitoids and panthopthalmids are commercially sensitive wood-borers of live trees. :)
Posted by Eric Fisher on 08-05-2009 15:09
#8
Actually, this beautiful fly is a species of Lasia (Acroceridae); the genus is a parasitoid of Tarantula spiders.
Chris -- you are getting some really nice flies in your Malaise trap samples from French Guiana!
Eric
Posted by Zeegers on 08-05-2009 15:14
#9
Right.
Finally a real expert.
Thanks
Theo
Posted by ChrisR on 08-05-2009 15:32
#10
Thanks Eric - much appreciated :D
Do you know if there are any keys to neotropical acrocerids? They look like a nice group to have a go at ... mild relief from all the anonymous tachinids! :D ;)
Out of interest, did you have any idea about the other acrocerid I posted earlier? Photos are also available on
my blog.
Edited by ChrisR on 08-05-2009 15:39
Posted by conopid on 08-05-2009 15:47
#11
What a superb fly!:)
Posted by Eric Fisher on 08-05-2009 16:15
#12
Chris,
The other one is possibly a sp. of Ocnaea. That is, it looks like Nearctic members of this genus (I am hesitant, however, to extend my very limited knowledge of this group to the Neotropical fauna...). There is a key that is being printed "as we speak" -- volume 1 of the "Manual of Central American Diptera" is in press and "at the bindery." This will cover the families of Nematocera to the Empidoids, and will include the Acroceridae of course. Same coverage (and same publisher) as the super "Manual of Nearctic Diptera" which appeared in the early 1980's. Volume 2 should appear within the year (and will have a massive and fantastic chapter on Tachinidae by Monty Wood). Fans of Neotropical Diptera are eagerly awaiting these volumes!!
Eric
Posted by ChrisR on 08-05-2009 18:35
#13
Yes, Monty's chapter is top of my "must get" list and I have been in touch with him over the last 6 months to see how he is getting on :) Not sure I can afford to buy a whole volume but I will hunt one down at a library :)
Posted by Eric Fisher on 08-05-2009 20:25
#14
The cost of volume 1 is $95 U.S.; don't know the projected cost of volume 2. I'm sure you will be able to get reprints or copies of individual chapters from the authors (or, at a good library!).