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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Flies (Diptera) » Orthorrhapha » Asiloidea » Mydas Flies (Mydidae) » Rhaphiomidinae » Rhaphiomidas
Photo#1252219
Rhaphiomidas on Eriastrum - Rhaphiomidas - male
Copyright © 2016 Ceal Klingler

Rhaphiomidas on Eriastrum - Rhaphiomidas - Male
west of Bishop, Inyo County, California, USA
June 27, 2014
Size: Approx. 1"
Observed at about 6000' in elevation on Eriastrum densifolium Cazier (1985) notes that Rhaphiomidas acton maculatus has been observed on Eriastrum densifolium, but R. acton maculatus has not been recorded this far north. Perhaps other subspecies of R. acton also feed on Eriastrum?
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Contributed by Ceal Klingler on 5 July, 2016 - 11:45pm
Last updated 6 July, 2016 - 6:50am

Hi Ceal
Using the key for male Rhaphiomidas at the end of Van Dam(2010), I found this male goes to Rhaphiomidas acton maehleri, due in part to the mild undulation along the upper edge of the epandrium (i.e. the bulbous "clasper-like" upper terminalia above, compare with Fig. 26 on pg. 55 of Van Dam(2010), and his couplet 22 in the key on pg. 59). It seems both R. acton acton and R. acton maehleri are sympatric in your area.

Also, in addition to R. acton maculatus using Eriatrum densifolium as a nectar source, R. acton acton is also recorded using E. densifolium...see the paper here.

[Oops!! Just noticed that Rick Rogers suggested what the authors of the paper above considered to be R. acton acton may have actually been R. acton maculatus or an intergrade of the two subspecies. At any rate, seems to me the use of Eriastrum densifolium shouldn't exclude R. acton maerleri or R. acton acton. At least one other rhaphio (R. abdominalis terminatus) is reported to nectar on Eriastrum densifolium.]
… Aaron Schusteff, 30 August, 2016 - 12:46am login or register to post comments

Moved
Moved from ID Request.
… John F. Carr, 6 July, 2016 - 6:50am login or register to post comments

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