Diptera.info

Posted by conopid on 09-01-2010 18:23

Hello DI people,
I wonder if anyone else encounters the same problem as me when trying to determine Sarcophagidae? That is, I can never work out which bits of the genitalia, as viewed through the microscope), correspond with the bits in the diagrams in Pape. They just don't look anything like each other to my unpractised eye! So, I am hoping that somebody out there (hello Jorgemotalmedia) might be willing to post some annotated photographs of male Sarcophagidae genitalia?

Can anyone assist?

Edited by conopid on 09-01-2010 18:24

Posted by Walther Gritsch on 10-01-2010 15:02

I've made this one... I hope it answers some of your questions.

The names of the various parts are the same as in Pape - with the exception of the small addition to 'juxta'.

The Sarcophagid genitals are a mess. I'll be the first to admit this! But after all it's just a matter of practicing and experience and suddenly one day you're no longer daunted by the aspect of prying into the genitals of Sarcs. For me it took several years ;)

Now the question is: What species do we have here? Very common all over Europe.

Good luck :)

Posted by jorgemotalmeida on 10-01-2010 16:56

amazing one!
I'll do one later, too.

Edited by jorgemotalmeida on 10-01-2010 16:57

Posted by Walther Gritsch on 10-01-2010 18:35

Yes, indeed - incisilobata it is!

I'll post a pic of the whole fly with all of its down-to-earth good looks later. I'm away from my computer right now...

Cheers,

Posted by conopid on 10-01-2010 19:12

Oh wow! That is just what is required:). Walther, thank you very much for this. This sort of thing is what makes this forum so brilliant!

Posted by conopid on 10-01-2010 19:14

Just a thought, but if we could get a set of photos like this for all the species, what a brilliant resource that would be.;)

Posted by Walther Gritsch on 11-01-2010 15:37

Like I promised. This is the whole fly Sarcophaga (Thyrsocnema) incisilobata.

If nothing else the picture shows why Sarcophagids and perhaps especially Sarcophagini almost always have to have their genitalia examined in order to determine the species.
On the surface they all look pretty much the same!

Posted by Walther Gritsch on 11-01-2010 15:45

While we're at it :)

What species has this spiky 5th sternite and scimitar-shaped cerci? Sarcophagini again.

Posted by conopid on 11-01-2010 17:52

#10

Great shot, no idea what this is without looking through Pape. But like the spikes.

Edited by conopid on 11-01-2010 17:53

Posted by Walther Gritsch on 11-01-2010 20:51

#12

The stacks were made with Helicon Focus. I haven't tried Zerene yet, but might do that... is supposed to be halo-free.
The species with the spiky sternite is Sarcophaga (Helicophagella) melanura.

Cheers,