- Taxonomic Group (English): Spiny-winged flies
- Taxonomic Group (Scientific): Diptera: Heleomyzidae and Trixoscelididae
- Scheme Organiser: Ian Andrews
This scheme was established in 2020 to promote the study and recording of the 61 UK species in these two families. Its predecessor as a study group was described in the spring 2019 DF Bulletin (no. 87).
- Records for the scheme can be added to iRecord, or contact Ian direct to send spreadsheet records.
- A draft key to heleomyzids, by Duncan Sivell and Alan Stubbs, is available on request from Ian Andrews or an illustrated version is available below...
- A Heleomyzid project on iNaturalist is bringing together photo records of some of the 151 European species and highlights variety within the family here. As of November 2024, there are over 6000 observations of Heleomyzids from across Europe.
IDENTIFICATION RESOURCES
Illustrated draft key by Sivell, Stubbs and Andrews
Ian Andrews' Flickr collection of UK Heleomyzidae
Fauna Hungariae Heleomyzidae (Hungarian) Papp and Soós
Monographie der Helomyziden L. Czerny (1924)
Withers key to Suillia (adapted with illustrations)
The above pdf is important for reference if finding a fly which keys out to Tephrochlaena from an inland site. Tephrochlaena is strictly coastal, but there seems to be an inland Tephrochlamys-type with strong pre-sutural DCs which keys out to Tephrochlaena. Some examples can be seen here...
Possible Tephrochlamys sp. with pre-sutural DCs
Updated and illustrated key to Heteromyzine genera This includes the apparent Tephrochlamys with pre-sutural DCs, which is mentioned above.
Tephrochlamys flavipes / tarsalis