Ditomyiidae - lateral - Symmerus vockerothi

Moved

Moved from Symmerus.

… Bjoern Rulik, 21 November, 2011 - 11:05am

Moved

Moved from Fungus Gnats and Gall Midges.

… Bjoern Rulik, 17 November, 2011 - 6:17am

"Ditomyid" again...

With dorsal edge of anepisternum setous, but mediotergite bare: species of subgenus Psilosymmerus (Ditomyiidae). According to Munroe (1974)(1) three species in NA present. Though coloration does not fit properly (Never trust in colors!), genital points to Symmerus (Psilosymmerus) uncatus Munroe, 1974. A more plain ventral and lateral shot (sternite 9) might bring certainty (hint: ventral side of genital is up).

Thanks for sharing...

so long,

… Bjoern Rulik, 17 November, 2011 - 6:16am

ventral shot clarifies identity:

Symmerus (Psilosymmerus) vockerothi Munroe, 1974. This one tried to fool me... I dreaming from focusable, high resolution, 360° images...

so long,

… Bjoern Rulik, 21 November, 2011 - 11:04am

Thanks...

...for the additional images. Picture 6 shows the dorsal side (tergite 9). A ventral view might be better, but lateral shot (7) may distinctive enough. Unfortunately, I have Munroe (1974)(1) not handy till Monday.

so long,

… Bjoern Rulik, 18 November, 2011 - 2:59am

Many thanks...

...for your efforts! But your latest image (8) is again dorsal. If you can see cerci up, you are on the dorsal side of genital. These gnats can rotate their genital by 180 degrees. So the "wrong" (ventral) side of genital shows up in your specimen. Opposite view would be interesting. Sorry for the confusion!

so long,

… Bjoern Rulik, 18 November, 2011 - 1:50pm

I'll get the photo tonight.

In the meantime I'm flipping through "Manual of Nearctic Diptera" (which I've not referenced much because I really don't do flies as they are hard) i see that what I've been calling 'end of abdomen' is really called 'terminalia'.

I'll try it again.

… MJ Hatfield, 18 November, 2011 - 2:21pm

You got it... :)

Your latest images (9-11) show the ventral side of genital up. Well, the MND is a very useful reference becoming familiar with flies. But still a big problem is the different/inconsistent anatomical terminology and interpretation of wing veins of various authors. Flies are not that hard to id: you solely need to pass the frustration level, which last round about 27k specimen examined. ;) You should do flies more often with such worth seeing images! Probably, the "Anatomical Atlas of Flies"(1) may help and encourage you.

so long,

… Bjoern Rulik, 19 November, 2011 - 12:51am