Thread subject: Diptera.info :: All Sphaeroceridae?
Posted by Juergen Peters on 29-11-2006 04:19
#1
Hello!
I am pretty sure (having learned it here in the forum ;)) that the first fly below (2.5 mm, yesterday night, Ostwestfalen/Germany) belongs to the Sphaeroceridae. But what about the slightly larger (3-3.5 mm) and more slender fly on pics 2 and 3? Although its wings are broken, it seems to be clear that the venation is different.
Posted by Paul Beuk on 29-11-2006 07:11
#2
The bottom two are Phoridae.
Posted by crex on 29-11-2006 07:24
#3
Very long arista on the first one, or is that an illusion?
Posted by Tony Irwin on 29-11-2006 08:58
#4
No illusion. A long arista is a characteristic of many sphaerocerids (and quite a few phorids too). The two families often look alike, presumably through evolving similar features to cope with similar lifestyles (burrowing and tunnelling in the dark).B)
Posted by Robert Nash on 29-11-2006 12:31
#5
In almost all Sphaeroceridae the basal (metatarsal) joint of the hind leg is swollen. This can't be seen on your pic but the 2 Phoridae do not have this character. The long legs are for fast running hence the term Scuttle fly>Glossary for a link.
Robert
Posted by Juergen Peters on 29-11-2006 19:59
#6
Hello, all!
Thanks a lot for your explanations! Some days ago I had some "Phoridae" here, which turned out to be Sphaeroceridae. Therefore I was stuck on that family. Now the new one turns out to be Phoridae :o. Thanks to you I now know where to look for the differences :-).
Posted by Ben Hamers on 29-11-2006 21:01
#7
Is it safe to separate living animals by the colour of the eyes (Phoridae blackish, Spaeroceridae reddish) ?
Ben