General discussion

Has anyone observed a species with an apparently divided scutellum? This 8mm fly was found indoors yesterday.  I attach three pictures, one showing the genitalia.

Anthony Bainbridge

Hi folks,

I seem to remember recently seeing an article with advice for attaching a Olympus TG5/6 to a trinocular microscope but cannot seem to now re-find it. Can anyone on here with a better memory than me kindly point me in the right direction?

I’m also seeking a key to help me work through several Bibio specimens I have in my collection. I know there was an RES handbook but this is not one of the very useful free downloads on their website. If anyone could put me onto one I would be very grateful.

Thank you in advance!

I've been passed a sample of the catch from a light trap that includes a couple of Simuliidae.  Is there a modern key to identify these or, if not, is there anybody who could identify them?

Thanks

Ray

Is this Hydrotaea diabolus please? Beds. 7 September 2021.  Support for that ID comes from Steve Crellin via Facebook.  Reason why it might not be diabolus is because the haltere is rather dark and it should be yellower for that species. Trouble is it doesn't key to any of the species with a darker haltere (some are rare anyway, whereas diabolus is supposed to be common).

I thought it was Onesia floralis (calliphoridae) but it Should have 0+3 intra alar bristles, and my fly seems to have 1+3 or does it ? Please confirm whether the presutural(marked) is intra alar or not ??????

This Chorisops appeared normal when taken on 21 August 2021 in Bedfordshire.  The next day it was almost entirely covered in fungus. Cleaned up a bit I think it is C.

Seems very unlikely but this keys to Lispe nana.  Beds.

I found this pupae of Episyrphus balteatus on one on the Teasels in my garden. I put it in a jar and to my surprise after about 4 weeks, this tiny little parasitic wasp  (please correct me if I am wrong) emerged from it. Can somebody help me with the identification of this parasite ? At which moment in its development was the host parasitised ?

Thanks a lot

Sylvie