Copestylum marginatum

Moved

… Zachary Dankowicz, 29 January, 2022 - 9:53pm

Moved

… Martin Hauser, 2 March, 2015 - 10:51am

Careful

The spots in front of the scutellum are not diagnostic for C. marginatum. I don't have any references in front of me, but I recall there being at least two or three NA species with the combination of bushy aristae and yellow spots in front of the scutellum. At least some of the images you linked are probably C. marginatum, but I don't know if they are definitively identifiable from images. Also note that 122499 is not C. marginatum (maybe C. florida?).

… Joel Kits, 2 September, 2008 - 9:53pm

Yes, and C. lentum is one of those

with two spots on the scutellum. Yesterday, I looked at some specimens at the Natural Hist. Museum of LA County & was reminded why I had put a question mark on my photos (see comments below), lacking an actual specimen.

… Hartmut Wisch, 5 September, 2008 - 4:03pm

Differentiate

In Williston, he differentiates Copestylum marginatum from Copestylum lentum by the pile and yellow of the dorsum.

… Alice Cavette, 5 September, 2008 - 5:53pm

Thanks for Caution

Thanks for cautioning us about using the two spots as diagnostic. I have removed 122499 from list.

It is not for me to identify these as C. marginatum but I would like to see BugGuide at least have a species listing for them when they ARE identified. Maybe for C. florida too.

… Alice Cavette, 3 September, 2008 - 1:00pm

Good point, Alice,

and I'm glad you bring it up.
Two of the posts you list are mine, which I posted as Copestylum marginatum ? after looking at a series of identified specimens at Cal State Northridge. I had added the questionmark because I didn't have specimens for careful comparison, and didn't have the time to check whether any superficially similar species exist where ID comes down to a matter of genitalia.
I don't know whether there's been a revision of this since Williston's 1886 description, and hope a dipterist who knows this genus can chime in.
I've made a note of this & will check with Jim Hogue at Cal State Northridge next week. Though preoccupied with bunches of other things, I'll catch a specimen if I'll remember.

… Hartmut Wisch, 28 August, 2008 - 10:47pm

Should I move it?

Would you like me to move it to Genus Copestylum for now?

… Alice Cavette, 28 August, 2008 - 11:35pm

Yes, genus level

is the safe move for now in my opinion. Hopefully we can get beyond genus. Thanks for the initiative, & thus reminder! With so many insects it hard to keep up.

… Hartmut Wisch, 29 August, 2008 - 12:23am

Thanks for researching and posting this, Alice.

The references to so many other posts will help the editors when species is determined on this one. Here's hoping!

… Ron Hemberger, 28 August, 2008 - 7:11pm

Look similar

to Copestylum marginatum in Texhoma, OK, with their unusual antennae.

… Kurt Schaefer, 28 August, 2008 - 7:27pm