The Society for the study of flies (Diptera)

Marc Taylor · 2014-06-26 23:57:47

Is there a open access copy of Day, C.D. & D'Assis-Fonseca, E.C.M. (1955) "A key to the females of the British species of Sarcophaga (Dipt., Calliphoridae)." Journal of the Society for British Entomology 5: 119-123. out there anywhere?

I am attempting to ID some female Sarcophaga and would appreciate some pointers

Thanks in advance

Marc

Martin Cooper · 2014-06-27 02:33:40

Hi Marc, Not quite what you asked about, but there is a key to British Sarcophagidae in this part of the RES Handbook: http://www.royensoc.co.uk/sites/default … oridae.pdf

Mark · 2014-06-27 03:01:57

you may also need D'Assis-Fonseca, E.C.M. An Important Character in the Identification of the Females of Sarcophaga (Dipt., Calliphoridae). Journal of the Society for British Entomology. 1953. 4(8). 167-8

Mark

Last edited by Mark (2014-06-27 03:02:48)

Howard Bentley · 2014-06-27 12:09:16

There is a key to females in Pape's book in the Fauna Entomologica Scandinavica series, which covers all of our species except for two rarities. However, I don't think it works very well, and unlike the males you have no check from external genitalia on the accuracy of your determinations. The book "Sarcophaga of France" has a key to the females of French species, which includes most of ours, but it relies heavily on genitalia features which require quite sophisticated dissection. Females of Sarcophaga are perhaps a group best left to professionals with access to lots of expensive equipment. The best of luck to you if you're going to attempt it; I'm afraid I've given them up on the grounds that life's too short!

Mark · 2014-06-28 01:08:10

I largely agree with Howard, I have both the books he mentions, If I was to choose only one, personally I would go for the french one. But I suspect others would prefer the Fauna Entomologica Scandinavica. If you can afford both, they do work well together I find.

One way one could id females, if bought home alive, is to place them in a jar with some peat and a piece of meat. then remove the female once she has laid eggs. Then rear the young, invariably some will be males and can be identified. I have done this one. Its a rather smelly business.

One usually fins enough males to keep one busy. Especially if they are hill-topping. I would go as far as Howard and say they are best left to professionals. But perfecting pulling out male genitalia and setting it 'just so' takes some practice.

Mark

Last edited by Mark (2014-06-28 01:09:01)

ChrisR · 2014-06-30 12:46:12

I have been working on producing some good deep-focus images of male sarcophagid genitalia for an online project and I think, as much as it would be technically fun to ID females, I have no plans to try. Where sarcos exist you can always pick up males and with a bit of practice spot the sexes in the field and so largely avoid females.

Marc Taylor · 2014-07-01 00:39:57

A big thank you to Chris R, Mark, Howard B and Martin for all your replies, plenty to consider. I look forward to finding some males or females to correctly prepare . . . .

Much obliged

Marc

The Society for the study of flies (Diptera)

#1 2014-06-26 23:57:47

trying to locate a copy of Day, C.D. & D'Assis-Fonseca, E.C.M. (1955)

#2 2014-06-27 02:33:40

Re: trying to locate a copy of Day, C.D. & D'Assis-Fonseca, E.C.M. (1955)

#3 2014-06-27 03:01:57

Re: trying to locate a copy of Day, C.D. & D'Assis-Fonseca, E.C.M. (1955)

#4 2014-06-27 12:09:16

Re: trying to locate a copy of Day, C.D. & D'Assis-Fonseca, E.C.M. (1955)

#5 2014-06-28 01:08:10

Re: trying to locate a copy of Day, C.D. & D'Assis-Fonseca, E.C.M. (1955)

#6 2014-06-30 12:46:12

Re: trying to locate a copy of Day, C.D. & D'Assis-Fonseca, E.C.M. (1955)

#7 2014-07-01 00:39:57

Re: trying to locate a copy of Day, C.D. & D'Assis-Fonseca, E.C.M. (1955)

Board footer