The Society for the study of flies (Diptera)
Affiliated to the British Entomological and Natural History Society (BENHS)
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#1 2008-09-05 09:46:13
- Letitiamaxwell
- Registered user
- Name: Array Array
- Registered: 2008-09-01
- Posts: 36
3 more craneflies
A good variety of craneflies this year ID?
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#2 2008-09-06 09:48:23
- Judy Webb
- Committee
- Name: Judith Webb
- Registered: 2008-02-21
- Posts: 169
Re: 3 more craneflies
I'm a relative beginner in craneflies, but these all look like Ptychoptera sp to me. First picture female, second one on flowers male and the third one is a female which looks to me to be parasitised (swollen whitish abdomen meaning it contains a larva, seems too big for an egg mass). There is a tachinid fly which parasitises craneflies. However we must wait for the experts to give an opinion - species identification may yet be possible from these photos,
Judy
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#3 2008-09-08 10:09:54
- Letitiamaxwell
- Registered user
- Name: Array Array
- Registered: 2008-09-01
- Posts: 36
Re: 3 more craneflies
Dear Judy
Thank you for the start with craneflies, The white socked cranefly was quite beautiful and could still fly well but I guess you are right about the possibility of parasitisation.
Regards LM
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#4 2008-09-08 19:57:28
- johnkramer
- Committee
- Name: John Kramer
- From: Oadby, Leicester
- Registered: 2008-02-20
- Posts: 10
Re: 3 more craneflies
The info you need for a safe ID of this family, the Ptychopteridae is the venation and pattern on the wing, and the structure of the male genitalia. The first specimen might be Ptychoptera minuta, the second one is probably Pt. contaminata, and the third one is Pt. albimana, with its whitish yellow hind metatarsus. John Kramer (Co-organiser, Cranefly Recording Scheme)
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