Yellow fly with red eyes

Bruce Williams · #1 (**permalink**) 01-11-2009, 08:35 PM

Stony Stratford, Bucks. Size: see scale bar.

From the look of its swollen abdomen I'm guessing this is a gravid female?

Help with id appreciated.

Bruce

JRsbugs · #2 (**permalink**) 01-11-2009, 11:36 PM

HI Bruce, I got one exactly the same yesterday, a gravid female too! I think it's Suillia bicolor family Heleomyzidae but I'm going to get that confirmed on diptera.info so will let you know.

Janet

JRsbugs · #3 (**permalink**) 02-11-2009, 12:11 AM

Here's a couple of my pics so you can see it's the same. It might be tomorrow before I get an answer now.

Jason Green · #4 (**permalink**) 02-11-2009, 01:11 AM

Hi Bruce,

I'd say it's a Sapromyza sp., Lauxaniidae family. A plain yellow fly like this could be one of several species and I don't doubt would require genital examination to get to species-level. Being gravid too, the abdomen will extended and puffed-up, and so any markings will be obscured/stretched and thus effectively more difficult to identify.

Take care,

Jason

JRsbugs · #5 (**permalink**) 02-11-2009, 01:23 AM

Sorry Bruce, I should have put a link to the pic on diptera.info...

Diptera.info - Photo Albums: Suillia bicolor (female) (1)

Jason Green · #6 (**permalink**) 02-11-2009, 02:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JRsbugs

Here's a couple of my pics so you can see it's the same. It might be tomorrow before I get an answer now.

Yes, I agree - exactly the same, compare the straight edges in two places on the otherwise regularly round eye. I say both Lauxaniids, and possibly Sapromyza sp.

Bruce Williams · #7 (**permalink**) 02-11-2009, 11:36 AM

Thanks for your help Janet and Jason.

Yes I think you're right on both counts Janet, we have pics of the same species and from your link and other pics I found on the internet (see Suillia bicolor on Flickr - Photo Sharing! for example) they are both Suillia bicolor or something very closely related.

Jason - I agree that some Sapromyza species do look VERY similar, however (and I'm not sure about this) aren't they quite a bit smaller at ~3mm? This fly is a little over 5mm. Interesting point about the extra difficulty in id'ing gravid females btw.

Bruce

JRsbugs · #8 (**permalink**) 02-11-2009, 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bruce Williams

Thanks for your help Janet and Jason.

Yes I think you're right on both counts Janet, we have pics of the same species and from your link and other pics I found on the internet (see Suillia bicolor on Flickr - Photo Sharing! for example) they are both Suillia bicolor or something very closely related.

Jason - I agree that some Sapromyza species do look VERY similar, however (and I'm not sure about this) aren't they quite a bit smaller at ~3mm? This fly is a little over 5mm. Interesting point about the extra difficulty in id'ing gravid females btw.

Bruce

I have got some replies, I knew these were very difficult as I have seen others posting what looks like should be easily identified flies but there's usually some doubt.

Diptera.info - Discussion Forum: Heleomyzidae Suillia bicolor?

To quote Andrzej who is obviously well qualified in the field,

Quote:

it should be a new "Heleomyzoid" tribe even it is not a Lauxaniid "formed" fly

There has been a lot of juggling going on in taxonomy lately in diptera! This goes to show that we can't in many instances identify from even a set of pics, even though I had 4 pics I didn't get a dorsal view as it was too high but I will be keeping my eyes open for it!

The Sapromyza species I have come across have been small Bruce as you mentioned.

Jason Green · #9 (**permalink**) 02-11-2009, 01:18 PM

Thanks for the update Janet

So... a bit of splitting and clumping has been happening then! It seems as though perhaps we have both been thinking of the same fly, but I've heard of it being a Lauxaniid and you a Heleomyzid maybe? Not sure. The size I don't think is so essential as to rule out an entire genus if we can't get it to species, or even family for sure as yet!

http://www.naturephoto-cz.com/fly-sa...hoto-5019.html

JRsbugs · #10 (**permalink**) 02-11-2009, 03:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jason Green

Thanks for the update Janet

So... a bit of splitting and clumping has been happening then! It seems as though perhaps we have both been thinking of the same fly, but I've heard of it being a Lauxaniid and you a Heleomyzid maybe? Not sure. The size I don't think is so essential as to rule out an entire genus if we can't get it to species, or even family for sure as yet!

Fly Sapromyza Photos, Fly Sapromyza Images | Photobank NaturePhoto-CZ

I wouldn't trust any pics other than those on diptera.info Jason, unless I am fairly sure the site is good at making valid IDs.

I hadn't any particular fly in mind, there are too many and I would recognise some by the pattern on the wings but this did look very much like the pic on diptera.info. However, read the update on there and you might get the picture.

I'm hoping I get a response from someone else who knows more about the 'old world' flies.