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Photo#1036574
Stilletto Fly - extra eyes? - Nebritus tanneri

Stilletto Fly - extra eyes? - Nebritus tanneri
Coral Pink Sand Dunes, Kane County, Utah, USA
May 27, 2011
Maybe Nebritus powelli? Does this fly have three additional eyes between the regular eyes?

Images of this individual: tag all
Stilletto Fly - extra eyes? - Nebritus tanneri Stilletto Fly - extra eyes? - Nebritus tanneri

Moved
Moved from Nebritus.

Another good find, Carol
I recently posted an image of Nebritus powelli (and have more from another locale...shown to me by Alice Abela). So I was prompted to dig up some literature on the genus.

The 1991 paper by Webb & Irwin(1) indicates there are 3 species. One, N. pellucidus has a conspicuously glossy and thickened first antennal segment. The other two, N. powelli and N. tanneri look very similar, but among other things N. powelli is restricted to coastal dunes in south-central California, whereas N. tanneri is an inland species that reaches eastward into (you guessed it!) Utah. See the range maps here.

So based on range alone, it's this is almost certainly N. tanneri. Furthermore, comparing your images with the current posts of N. powelli and the descriptions in Hardy (1938) (under the original name of Zionea tanneri) and in Webb & Irwin(1)...I'm convinced yours is indeed N. tanneri.

 
Ahh...
Once more you have come to my rescue. Thanks for taking the time to check up on this dapper-looking fly. Not only do I thank you but I'm sure all the Nebritus powelli thank you for giving them some recognition her in Utah. Keep up the good work and thanks for all the information (maps and links). You're the best.

Moved
Moved from Stiletto Flies.

just a guess...
poking through the stiletto fly images suggests that various species have more or less of their heads colored a shiny black and that sometimes includes the area around the occelli. Maybe what looks extra eyes are these shiny black areas. Like I said, just a guess


 
Thanks, Steve...
I'm sure that's it. It's nice to have you guys around to answer my weird questions. At least I'm learning something.

It should have three ocelli...
...but they'd be very small and should be all together in the spot on the top of the head (see the image here for ocelli placement). The dark, shiny shiny structures near the antennae are something else, I believe.

 
Okay...
Thanks, Ken.

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