Thread subject: Diptera.info :: Very small fly with big head

Posted by Juergen Peters on 22-10-2006 03:17
#1

Hallo, allerseits!

This tiny (1.5-2 mm) fly also visited the light yesterday (Ostwestfalen/Germany). Does it belong to the Pipunculidae? Thanks!

Posted by Paul Beuk on 22-10-2006 07:42
#2

Platypezidae, I think.

Posted by Juergen Peters on 22-10-2006 19:53
#3

Hello, Paul!

Paul Beuk wrote:
Platypezidae, I think.


Ah, thanks, that family did not come into my mind. I was not happy with Pipunculidae, and the fly did not have Nematocera antennae like a male Simulid, but I did not know which other family it could be.

Posted by Juergen Peters on 22-10-2006 20:38
#4

Hello, again!

Juergen Peters wrote:
with Pipunculidae, and the fly did not have Nematocera antennae like a male Simulid


Here is another one from yesterday with filamentary antennae. Maybe this is a male Simulium sp.?

Posted by Tony Irwin on 22-10-2006 21:37
#5

Hi J?rgen
I think your first picture is a simuliid as well. The radial veins show well in contrast to the very faint other veins. I think in Platypezidae the median and cubital veins would be visible. As for the antennae, I suspect this male is holding them back over its eyes, which they sometimes do. Simuliids regularly come to light, and I don't think this is something that platypezids do.

Posted by Juergen Peters on 22-10-2006 23:27
#6

Hello, Tony!

Tony Irwin wrote:
I think your first picture is a simuliid as well.


Thanks! In any case this is a very astonishing Diptera - even more so for a Nematocera.