Ptiolina obscura
Ptiolina cf obscura
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Diptera
Family: Rhagionidae
Subfamily: Spaniinae
Genus: Ptiolina
Species:
P. obscura
Binomial name
Ptiolina obscura
(Fallén 1814)[1]
Synonyms

Ptiolina obscura is a species of 'snipe flies' belonging to the family Rhagionidae.[8]

It is a Palearctic species found over most of Europe [9][10]

Description

Flies of this genus are tiny and black, quite unlike the normal conception of Rhagionidae. They may easily be mistaken for small Empididae and are little known probably because the species sometimes occur in considerable numbers for a very short period. Ptiolina can be confused only with Spania or Symphoromyia. Symphoromyia is distinguished by the kidney-shaped third antennal segment, or by having hairs on the metapleuron. In Ptiolina the metapleura (immediately in front of halteres) are bare. Separating Ptiolina from Spania is more difficult. The terminal style of the antenna is centrally placed in Ptiolina, Spania lacks a true style, but the ventral margin of the last antennal segment is produced into a pseudostyle.

The males are darker, more chocolate coloured than the females.

Biology

Ptiolina is a stem borer of mosses.

References

  1. 1 2 Fallén, C.F. (1814). "Anthracides Sveciae". Berlingianis, Lundae [= Lund].: 1-8 9-16.
  2. ↑ Zetterstedt, J.W. (1842). Diptera Scandinaviae disposita et descripta. Tomus primus. Lundae [= Lund.].: Officina Lundbergiana. pp. iii-xvi + 1-440. Retrieved 22 October 2022.
  3. ↑ Schilling, P.S. (1838). "Bericht über die Arbeiten der entomologischen Section im Jahre 1837". Uebersicht Arb. Verand. schesischen Ges. vaterl. Kultur im Jahre 1837. Breslau. 1837: 99–112.
  4. ↑ Wahlberg, P.F. (1854). "Bidrag till kannedomen om de nordiska Diptera". Öfversigt af Kongliga Vetenskapsakademiens Förhandlingar. 11: 211–216. Retrieved 2 January 2023.
  5. ↑ Zetterstedt, J.W. (1859). Diptera Scandinaviae disposita et descipta. Tomus tridecimus seu supplementum quartum, continens addenda, corrigenda & emendata tomis duodecim prioribus, una cum cospectu omnium generum. Lundae [= Lund.]: Officina Lundbergiana. pp. xvi+ 4943-6190.
  6. ↑ Frauenfeld, G.R. von (1867). "Zoologische Miscellen XI". Verhandlungen der Kaiserlich-Königlichen Zoologisch-Botanischen Gesellschaft in Wien. 17: 425–502, pl. 12. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
  7. ↑ Walker, F. (1848). List of the specimens of dipterous insects in the collection of the British Museum. part 1. London: British Museum. pp. 1–229.
  8. ↑ Kerr, Peter H. (2010). "Phylogeny and classification of Rhagionidae, with implications for Tabanomorpha (Diptera: Brachycera)". Zootaxa. 2592 (1): 1–133.
  9. ↑ Fauna Europaea
  10. ↑ Stubbs, Alan E.; Drake, Martin (2001). British Soldierflies and their allies: A Field Guide to the Larger British Brachycera. London: British Entomological and Natural History Society. pp. 528 pages. ISBN 1-899935-04-5.
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