BG646 fly - Hoplitimyia mutabilis

Moved

Moved from Hoplitimyia.

… Martin Hauser, 8 May, 2020 - 12:51pm

Moved

Moved from Hoplitimyia constans.

… Martin Hauser, 8 May, 2020 - 12:08pm

Moved

Moved from Hoplitimyia mutabilis.

… Martin Hauser, 3 May, 2020 - 3:26pm

Fantastic Photo Set!!

Features are so clear! Very instructive for learning characters of antenna, wing venation, etc.

I'm a diptera novice and was just pointed towards Stratiomyidae for a photo ID. (A new family for me.) Wanted to express appreciation to you for posting these :-)

… Aaron Schusteff, 20 August, 2007 - 2:35pm

Moved

Moved from Flies.

… Martin Hauser, 5 March, 2007 - 1:43pm

Hoplitimyia mutabilis (Fabricius)

This is Hoplitimyia mutabilis (Fabricius). Males have silvery pilosity on the dorsum of the abdomen, and, as Martin noted, a black scutellum. This is a nice record as I think all published records are from Texas and Arizona. The larvae of this genus are aquatic, usually in moss and algae near the edges (at least the species I collected once in Panama). So finding it near the edge of a stream makes sense.

… Norm Woodley, 5 March, 2007 - 1:22pm

Subject ID

Many thanks!
I have posted dorsal photos of the abdomen of this specimen, showing the change in appearance with change of lighting angle.
We still have a major backlog of images to be edited and posted, and bug season has already arrived in LA.
I believe this is one problem we can happily live with!
Gayle

… Gayle and Jeanell Strickland, 5 March, 2007 - 2:16pm

Awesome pictures

I always hoped you would photograph a Strat! It is clearly a Hoplitimyia, but I am not so sure about the species because it looks like it has the silver abdomen like constans, but the scutellum is black... I wish you had a picture of the abdomen and the wings spread...
Norm has way more experience with the Nearctic fauna, I will ask him...

… Martin Hauser, 5 March, 2007 - 12:56pm

My previous reply to Martin's

My previous reply to Martin's comment was sent before I saw Norm's comment.
It may be still of interest to see the variation in abdominal appearence with lighting changes.
The angle of lighting has a major effect on the color of the abdomen of some members of this genus, as clearly shown in Steve Scott's fine photo here. I have added photo # 8 to show this effect on our specimen. Compare with photo #7.
Gayle

… Gayle and Jeanell Strickland, 5 March, 2007 - 2:07pm

Thanks for all the nice pictu

Thanks for all the nice pictures! It is great to have the male abdomen from all angles... This series is very important, cause this species is now well documented, and it is very helpful for identifying material in future from pictures with not so many characters visible...

… Martin Hauser, 5 March, 2007 - 3:48pm

Ask and you shall receive!

I have added image #7 to the series.
I still have the specimen, should it be of interest to anyone.
The abdomenal color varies with the angle of lighting. I will photograph it in such a way as to show the silver color and post an additional photo shortly.
Many thanks for your interest in our material.
Gayle

… Gayle and Jeanell Strickland, 5 March, 2007 - 1:31pm

yes, Stratio*myidae

One can tell by the pronounced, rounded d cell in the wing. I'm not sure if this is Hopli*tomyia,. Either Martin Hauser or Norm Woodley will probably be able to give you a definitive answer for genus/species.

… Keith Bayless, 4 March, 2007 - 9:27pm

Nice series

Antenna reminds me of my*das fly. So does initial confusion with robber fly! (That's how I found my first my*das, one of two.)

… Ron Hemberger, 4 March, 2007 - 8:35pm