Diptera.info

Posted by Joris Menten on 08-01-2007 10:26

Any Sphaerocerid specialists ?

I am identifying some Sphaeroceridae from Flanders (Belgium, date: 01-07-2002) and came across the following Ischiolepta. Based on Pitkin, I come out on I. paracrenata: based on the seta on thorax. Also the male cerci seem to match the drawings in Pitkin - there is however a tooth on the cerci which would point to denticulata (but the general shape of the cerci seems wrong for this species). However, I. paracrenata is not in the catalogue for belgium or the netherlands, and I'm not sure if this is still a valid species. Any idea if this is I paracrenata, I denticulata, or something else?

Joris

Edited by Joris Menten on 08-01-2007 10:34

Posted by Paul Beuk on 08-01-2007 12:14

On the basis of the genitalia I tend to go in the direction of I. paracrenata. With the oblique view of the mesonotum I cannot be quite certain of the number of median rows with expanded setae. I would not mind having a look at the actual specimen to confirm the identifiction. I think I have a more detailed revision that the treatment of the genus by Pitkin at home.

Posted by Joris Menten on 08-01-2007 13:32

Below a dorsal view of a female from the same batch. The seta seem to be in two - not very regular - rows. Any idea of the status of the species outside of the UK? Is it actually currently seen as a good species - all of the current catalogues (apart from the UK one) seem to see it as a synonym of I denticulata?

Thanks for the offer of a check - I'll first go through the rest of the samples (approx. 200 sphaerocerids) - maybe something other problematic/interesting might turn up.

Joris

Edited by Joris Menten on 08-01-2007 13:40