Spilomyia sp.? - Spilomyia crandalli

Moved

… Hartmut Wisch, 11 October, 2009 - 4:41pm

Moved

… margarethe brummermann, 27 August, 2009 - 12:01pm

Looks like

one I just shot here in PA that I think is S. longicornis. However, the data page isn't showing that species in the western states.

… Jon M. Yuschock, 27 August, 2009 - 10:31am

That's the question.

Eric's Field Guide lists that sp. for eastern states..

… margarethe brummermann, 27 August, 2009 - 11:59am

AZ spp:

S. crandalli Curran, S. kahli Snow and S. liturata Williston

… margarethe brummermann, 27 August, 2009 - 12:02pm

Indeed,

and this one is a female S. crandalli Curran.
How I got here is a long story, but relates to seeing a couple of Spilomyia at Eaton Canyon. Frustrated by not succeeding in getting photos, or netting for a couple of days, I decided to check what new posts were at BG for this genus.
The short story: this fly is very similar to the Eastern longicornis, and keys to the same couplet (most recent key by Thompson, 1996; see INFO page for S. crandalli). The main difference (not visible in your photo) pertains to the amount & placement of yellow areas on the pleuron. In crandalli the yellow areas are broadly interrupted, whereas in longicornis they form a continuous band in the middle of the pleuron (from katepisternum to laterotergite).
Types (HT, AT, & PT) are all from Mt. Lemmon.
We have another post, from the Huachuca Mtns., which turns out to be crandalli as well.
You should also find (if your beetles leave enough time) the unique, orange-yellow S. kahli. A female specimen from Globe, AZ, was originally described by Curran (1935) as S. xanthocauda but subsequently recognized as the same as S. kahli Snow.
Here's what liturata looks like.

… Hartmut Wisch, 9 October, 2009 - 8:41pm

Thanks so much!

'my' beetles leave me ample time to appreachiate these interesting guys this year!

… margarethe brummermann, 12 October, 2009 - 9:19am