The Society for the study of flies (Diptera)
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#1 2008-06-09 12:00:39
Information on Leucophora species
Hi all,
New member and not a Dipterist (Myrmecologist instead), so this may be a dumb question.
I originally asked about Leucophora species on the British Insects Yahoo forum, but have had no useful responses, so I'm now taking the query to the experts!
I encountered what I think was probably a species of Leucophora in Surrey last month - more information on my observations are at http://sifolinia.blogspot.com/2008/06/s … e-fly.html. However, the information on these species appears to be very sparse. None appear to have conservation status, but are any of them rare? L. obtusa seems to be the commonest species, but how common is this?
Many thanks in advance.
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#2 2008-06-11 12:23:08
- Judy Webb
- Committee
- Name: Judith Webb
- Registered: 2008-02-21
- Posts: 169
Re: Information on Leucophora species
I'm not sure identification is possible with the shots you have, but I have asked Anthomyiid expert Michael Ackland to take a look. All expert dipterists are very busy at this time of year, so have patience!
I have been passed flies hovering around bee burrows and they turned out to be Sarcophagids, not Anthomyiids, so other families are possible
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#3 2008-06-13 13:41:41
- Andy chick
- DF Members
- Name: Andy Chick
- From: Nottingham
- Registered: 2008-02-26
- Posts: 28
Re: Information on Leucophora species
i cant see any Squama at the wing base so i would guess that its not a Sarcophagid (however im far from an expert!)
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#4 2008-06-14 11:37:08
Re: Information on Leucophora species
Andy chick wrote:
i cant see any Squama at the wing base so i would guess that its not a Sarcophagid (however im far from an expert!)
Excellent, thank you. Hopefully it will be possible to narrow down the options further, especially when Michael Ackland looks at the photos.
This has been one of those instances where I really wish I had captured the beast, as I could then get a reliable ID!
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#5 2008-06-19 01:25:31
- schultmay
- Committee
- Name: Barbara Ismay
- Registered: 2008-02-14
- Posts: 19
Re: Information on Leucophora species
The Status Review for Anthomyiidae is still in preparation, but the latest draft that I have seen (from 2006) included some Leucophora species. However, Michael Ackland might know more.
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#6 2008-06-23 15:34:10
- Michael Ackland
- DF Members
- Name: Michael Ackland
- Registered: 2008-06-13
- Posts: 1
Re: Information on Leucophora species
http://tachinidae.org.uk/site/index.php
Go to this tachinid site and under Tachinids find Anthomyiidae. You can download keys and information about Anthomyiidae. You will have to email me for the password to download. The infomation is on the site.
The photos certainly look like Leucophora, but I would need a specimen to determine which species.
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