Fringe-legged Tachinid Fly - Trichopoda plumipes

Moved

… Beatriz Moisset, 2 December, 2006 - 10:57am

This one is Trichopoda plumip

This one is Trichopoda plumipes. It is recognized by the color pattern on the abdomen (black with pairs of rectangular yellow spots - clearly visible in your photo), yellow scutellum, and the wing with wide and clearly defined hyaline band posteriorly. Trichopoda subdivisa is only known from California.

… Gary J. Steck, 2 December, 2006 - 10:35am

That's what I think, too

Yes, the consensus is that these smaller Trichopoda with yellow-and-black banded abdomens are T. subdivisa. (The ones with orange abdomens appear to be T. plumipes and/or T. pennipes.) Since it's hard to know for sure without a technical key, I've labeled the guide "Trichopoda cf. subdivisa". Also, there has been some taxonomic shuffling, and I don't quite understand the list in Brimley, (1) which does not have subdivisa, but does have another species that may be the same. The guide has some identification references, and a partial discussion.

Patrick Coin
Durham, North Carolina

… Cotinis, 21 February, 2005 - 9:45am

"cf?"

Can you please explain what "cf." means? I am assuming it is some Latin abbreviation for "close to." I also wonder what the different genders look like, and whether we might accidentally mistake one gender for a different species, not just on these flies, but other insects as well.

… Eric R. Eaton, 22 February, 2005 - 11:48am

cf = compare (Latin)

Sorry, I should have explained that. cf is short for Latin confer, meaning "compare". I see it used occasionally in taxonomic lists for this sort of situation--meaning, "it sure looks like this, but it's hard to know for sure". That's what I was trying to express there. I've seen the Balabans (spelling?) use it, too, I think. Here's a page alluding to its use in taxonomy, though it does not give an example. Aha, here is an example of it used for taxonomy--"Salpidobolus cf. palawanus Hoffman 1974". (I'm not completely crazy.)

I guess Troy wants to abolish such constructions, which is fine, if that's the way he wants it. I think they serve a useful purpose, however. There are many times we can get organisms classified to slightly better than a particular genus. For instance, I'm pretty sure this fly is not T. plumipes or T. pennipes--there are several published illustrations of those, and they are quite distinct. The markings and thin abdomen are comparable to an illustration of T. subdivisa in Milne. (1) However I can't quite reconcile the taxonomic lists (Brimley, NCSU) for my area with T. subdivisa. Maybe there's been a change in taxonomy? It's not a large genus, which is frustrating. So I compromised and wrote the guide as "cf. subdivisa". I tried to explain that in the guide.

Good point about sex differences. That needs to be watched for more diligently. I do have one photo of Trichopoda mating.

I know you have very high standards, and that's good. I guess I'm trying to express my level of certainty of an identification/classification. Maybe this photo should have been left at the genus level. We can move it, I suppose.

Patrick Coin
Durham, North Carolina

… Cotinis, 22 February, 2005 - 12:45pm