pluvialis section

Classification · Synonyms and other taxonomic changes · Numbers · Identification · Range · Remarks · See Also · Works Cited

Anthomyia sp. - Anthomyia illocata - female

root maggot fly - Anthomyia procellaris - female

Robber Fly? - Anthomyia oculifera - male

Please help us to identify this guy. - Anthomyia illocata - female

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)

Class Insecta (Insects)

Order Diptera (Flies)

No Taxon (Calyptratae)

Superfamily Muscoidea

Family Anthomyiidae (Root-Maggot Flies)

Genus Anthomyia

No Taxon pluvialis section

Synonyms and other taxonomic changes

This is Anthomyia in the strict sense used before revisionary work in the 1970s. Older records tend to list all species as A. pluvialis (L.) but that species is a recent introduction to North America. The native species are more common and widespread.

Numbers

Five species in North America (three native, two introduced). Many more species globally.

Key to species in (1)

Identification

Distinguished from other Anthomyia by the strong black and white markings, and from other Muscoidea by the combination of strong black and white markings, hairs on the proepisternum, and prealar bristle present.

Range

Nearly worldwide

Remarks

Species of the A. pluvialis section have contrasting gray and black markings. (Most species are dull brownish gray.) Five species of this section are known or suspected to occur in the Nearctic region:

Transverse dark band behind suture: A. oculifera males, A. illocata

Three spots behind suture, separate or joined with deep notches: A. pluvialis, A. procellaris, A. ottowana

Two, long longitudinal stripes along dorsocentrals: A. oculifera females

See Griffiths (2001)(2) or Suwa (1987)(3) for illustrations. Key to species in (1)

See Also

Brontaea, Calythea, Eustalomyia, Gymnodia, and Limnophora also have species that are bright gray with dark stripes or spots.

Works Cited

1.	Field/Photo ID for Flies: Fly Guide

2.	Flies of the Nearctic region, Volume VIII: Cyclorrhapha II. (Schizophora: Calyptratae), Part 2: Anthomyiidae, No. 13 Griffiths, Graham C. D. 2001. Schweizerbart.

3.	The genus Anthomyia in Palaearctic Asia (Diptera: Anthomyiidae) Suwa, Masaaki. 1987. Insecta matsumurana.

Contributed by John F. Carr on 12 December, 2011 - 7:13pm
Additional contributions by zdanko
Last updated 2 August, 2021 - 9:05pm

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