Thread subject: Diptera.info :: A fungicolous Sphaeroceridae

Posted by Dmitry Gavryushin on 18-09-2006 21:05
#1

Found en masse on or near old decaying fungi, mostly Agaricus cf. arvensis, 16.09.2006, size around 2mm.

Dr. Jindrich Rohacek kindly identified this as Spelobia (Spelobia)
parapusio
(Dahl, 1909). He also notes,
'S. parapusio is a commonest (truly mycetophagous) sphaerocerid on fungi in Europe. In our latitudes this species usually is parthenogenetic, thus only females form populations here. I know of bisexual populations in southern Europe; rarely males were also found in England and Belgium'.

Edited by Dmitry Gavryushin on 18-09-2006 21:06

Posted by Dmitry Gavryushin on 18-09-2006 21:09
#2

A newly emerged (teneral) specimen.
Regarding this specimen Dr. Rohacek writes:
Your immature specimen ... looks like also to be male (but I cannot see the genitalia precisely) - if it is true, keep, please, the specimen for collection as it is an interesting record.

Posted by proctoss on 19-09-2006 01:20
#3

Cool! B)

Posted by Dmitry Gavryushin on 19-09-2006 12:40
#4

Thanks Victor :).
I sent one more image to Dr. Rohacek, and he confirmed the second specimen was a male - first record for Russia :).

Posted by crex on 19-09-2006 14:27
#5

Congratulations. As always - impressive photos!

Posted by Dmitry Gavryushin on 06-10-2006 13:42
#6

Thanks a lot crex :) .