General discussion

Hi,

I am starting to get into Diptera after several attempts but find myself struggling. I’m a student largely based in Exeter and was wondering if anyone had a collection or some named specimens I could look at/borrow (ill pay for postage or anything) to identify to help me get used to the keys. (I have tried to contact the museum but that’s taking a while)

It’s fine if nothing is possible,
-Tom

Is there a usable key to the Dryomyzidae?

Hi there, 

Could anyone help me with identification of this fly? I was expecting it to be relatively straightforward given its distinctiveness but I've drawn a blank!

I've recorded Madiza glabra - mainly gravid females - close to home (Codford, Wiltshire) and have a few interesting photos.  It occurred in large numbers along with a Chloropid Thaumatomyia notata on the inside of upstairs windows over a period of several weeks.  I'v not seen M.

Generally speaking I think it is not very easy to determine especially the females of Trichina. But when you receive specimens in alcohol, which is more common actually than receiving dried material, it is sometimes a nightmare. It is almost impossible to see judge the gloss of the dorsum or notopleural depressions. How do you solve this problem? I am absolutely able to judge the gloss of dorsum or katepisternum of other hybotids as Platypalpus in alcohol, but Trichina.....

This fly (wing length 7 mm) came from mixed woodland in south Hampshire, at MV light on 14^th August 2020. It keyed to Heleomyzidae, and had most of that Family’s characteristics – but not all. It has no F-bristles, and the frons is very narrow. There are two sizes of bristle along the costa, but the difference between the long and short ones isn’t great.

After a frustrating hour trying to run this to genus in Collin, I am hoping someone can give me a leg-up, please. It is 3 mm long excluding the proboscis, and came from a Malaise trap in a suburban garden in Hampshire (VC11) on 7th May 2020.

Have any fellow Dipterists, or people you know, bought cabinets/drawers from Paradox or Entosphinx?

I am looking at cabinets at the moment fro my collecton and the two companies seem to be the best value by a long way, even accounting for shipping. I cannot find any similar UK companies and have exhausted options here.

Mike