Diptera.info

Posted by lweit on 06-01-2007 15:55

Hello Tony
In Fauna Europae and other database (Funet, ....), the species Philygria picta is always named Nostima picta, subfamily : Ilytheinae, tribe : Hyadinini.
In the database of AnimalDiversity Web, it belong to subfamily Parydrinae, tribe Philygriini ??
What's the true classification

Thank you
Louis

Posted by Juergen Peters on 07-01-2007 00:18

Hello, Tony and Paul!

Thank you very much! I see, that I learn much in this forum :D. One of the possible families I had in mind was Ephydridae. But it was too vague to express it here (too afraid to blame myself again ;-)).

Tony Irwin wrote:
Gerard is right. It is Philygria (formerly Nostima) picta (Ephydridae). It is interesting that you have found it in January. Normally it is a spring and autumn species.

Does it overwinter as an imago (occuring in autumn and spring does suggest that)? As I mentioned, I found it indoors in our winter garden.

Posted by Tony Irwin on 07-01-2007 13:34

lweit wrote:
In Fauna Europae and other database (Funet, ....), the species Philygria picta is always named Nostima picta, subfamily : Ilytheinae, tribe : Hyadinini.
In the database of AnimalDiversity Web, it belong to subfamily Parydrinae, tribe Philygriini ??
What's the true classification

Well, Louis, I don't know that there is a true classification - all taxonomy (at least above species level) is artificial - and we simply choose what is most useful, or reflects our current state of knowledge. As a rule, useful classifications reflect the evolutionary history of a group, and as our understanding changes, so do classifications. Currently, the classification Ephydridae/Ilytheinae/Philygriini is favoured, though some authors include the Philygriini within the Hyadinini.
Again, some authors regard Nostima as a separate genus from Philygria, but phylogenetic work published by Hollmann-Schirrmacher in 1998 appeared to show that some species of Philygria were more closely related to Nostima than to other species of Philygria. When that happens, we can either split Philygria into more genera (gets messy!) or reunite Nostima with Philygria. Further research may show that it's better to split Philygria, in which case, the name will be Nostima picta again!

Posted by Tony Irwin on 07-01-2007 13:45

Juergen Peters wrote:
Does it overwinter as an imago (occuring in autumn and spring does suggest that)? As I mentioned, I found it indoors in our winter garden.

Yes, I think that's most likely - we know that many species of fly must overwinter as adults, though they are seldom seen in winter months - this may simply be because many dipterists are examining their summer captures, and don't go out much in winter. ;)
Alternatively, increasing temperatures in the winter are likely to lead to unseasonal emergence of some species. I remember many years ago, that Trichoceridae was the only family I was likely to see in January. Things have certainly changed since then! B)

Posted by Juergen Peters on 08-01-2007 02:21

#10

Hello, Paul and Gerard!

Paul Beuk wrote:
Hehe, though I might have written something similar to what Gerard wrote, this is too much credit. ;)

Oh, sorry! :o Thanks, Gerard! I should not write postings so late in the night... ;)

Posted by Juergen Peters on 08-01-2007 02:26

#11

Hello, Tony!

Tony Irwin wrote:
lead to unseasonal emergence of some species. I remember many years ago, that Trichoceridae was the only family I was likely to see in January. Things have certainly changed since then! B)

Of course... I'm not sure, whether I account this to be a good thing. Yesterday a user of my forum posted an active Culiseta annulata female, photographed in Austria these days... (a species which especially loves me - had enough of them in the summer).