Thread subject: Diptera.info :: California Long-Legged Fly
Posted by Stephen on 18-03-2007 21:55
#1
Greetings to my Diptera friends after an absence of several months. Lots of flies are starting to be outside, wanting to have their pictures taken.
This one posed for me while I was visiting my sister in southern California. It was along a (rare) stream in an arid, sagebrush habitat. Date was 6 March. Size was not recorded.
Doli? Eating a fly larva perhaps?
ID help appreciated.
Posted by Nikita Vikhrev on 18-03-2007 22:03
#2
Hi Stephen.
Wellcome back!
While awaiting expert's opinion I tell what I think. I think it is near Thinophilus...
Nikita
Posted by Kahis on 19-03-2007 08:48
#3
Tachytrechus (Dolichopodidae)
Posted by Igor Grichanov on 19-03-2007 09:58
#4
This fly is a female of Pelastoneurus. In America some species are very close to Tachytrechus and Paraclius, and some species travelled from one genus to another, even recently (Pollet et al., 2004). The species may be included into the work:
ROBINSON H., 1964.
A synopsis of the Dolichopodidae (Diptera) of the south eastern United States and adjacent region. Misc. Publs. Ent. Soc. Am., 4 (4) 103-192, 139 figs.
The female from the photo has bulging face and rounded postpedicel (3rd antennal segment). Therefore, seek it in either Tachytrechus or Pelastoneurus keys.
Posted by Stephen on 19-03-2007 10:14
#5
Nikita, Kahis, Igor, Thank-you very much for your help with this fly. I am posting a cropped version to show more detail of the antennae and other features of the head.
If I get back to California I will have to try to get a photo of the dorsal view and the face!
By the way, how can we tell this is a female?
Edited by Stephen on 19-03-2007 10:17