DIPTERA > BRACHYCERA | Higher Diptera

MUSCOMORPHA > SCHIZOPHORA > Calyptratae > Muscoidea > Anthomyiidae (246 species)

(subfamilies: Anthomyiinae and Pegomyiinae)

The Anthomyia genus includes ten species that can be broadly separated into two groups:

Species without a pale grey and black-patterned scutelum:

Anthomyia liturata as briefly described on the previous page, which is by far the most frequently recorded member of the genus, now separated from Anthomyia confusanea. Also, Anthomyia cannabina, Anthomyia mimetica and Anthomyia monilis.

Species with a pale grey and black-patterned scutelum:

Anthomyia pluvialis and Anthomyia procellaris, both widespread and relatively common. Also, Anthomyia bazini and Anthomyia imbrida; the former being a recently rediscovered species with only a couple of records, and the latter, which seems to be poorly recorded probably due to the interpretation of the key visual feature noted below. These four are usually treated as a complex when the actual species cannot be determined. Anthomyia plurinotata is also in this group, but not in the complex. It has only been recorded a handful of times and does not even feature in the key, although there is a note that it has only two postsutural black marks on the scutum. A further totally new species, Anthomyia quinquemaculata has also recently been identified, very similar to Anthomyia procellaris, but has not yet made its way on to the official list.

The only species that can be tentatively identified from photos are Anthomyia pluvialis, Anthomyia procellaris and possibly Anthomyia imbrida. And, only then with confirmed males, as officially all females should be recorded as Anthomyia pluvialis (complex) as would any unidentified or doubtful males.

The pattern in terms of the number and formation of the black markings need to be clearly visible, so a good side view is important to determine whether the side spots are separated or confluent.

Anthomyia pluvialis - the available keys vary slightly, either confirming "three black spots on mesonotum completely separated, lateral ones separated or only narrowly connected to the small spot at the wing base" or "scutum with lateral postsutural black spot separated from the small spot above the wing base, with the upper border of the latter ventral to the supra-alar seta". Steven Falk's description in that this is the only species with five black spots implies that the lateral spots, in his view, are always separated.

Anthomyia procellaris - for this species the keys state "three postsutural black spots on mesonotum completely separated or rarely partly confluent, lateral ones broadly confluent with spot at wing base" or "scutum with the large lateral postsutural black spot broadly confluent with the small black spot above wing base (if separated then the upper margin of the black spot above the wing base is larger and reaches the point of insertion of the supra-alar seta)" followed by "posterior margin of the lateral postsutural black spot on scutum more or less straight just below the level of the posterior intra-alar seta".

Anthomyia imbrida - pretty much the same as Anthomyia procellaris, except for "lateral spots separated from or more or less confluent with spot at wing base" and/or "posterior margin of the lateral postsutural black spot on scutum distinctly indented just below the posterior intra-alar seta".

It's important to remember that this particular species has only a few confirmed records with only one listed from Dorset (VC9) way back in 1954, which coincidently was from the late Michael Ackland (1927-2021) who was the leading authority on these species. In 2008, he stated that "the shape of the lateral postsutural black mark (in lateral view) in the males of Anthomyia pluvialis, procellaris and imbrida can almost always be separated by the hind margins. In pluvialis it does not reach the thorax margin, in procellaris it does, and in imbrida it has an indentation" and, to clarify the meaning, he accompanied that statement with three close-up photos on the Dipterist Forum, which can be used to help identification. The emphasis here in respect of Anthomyia imbrida is very much on the side spot having an indentation. The keys differ, one clearly stating that the lateral marking is separated from the small black spot at the wing base, whilst the other says that it's broadly confluent and that if it is separated then the upper margin ... etc., etc. All I know is that the male I photographed at Cashmoor Down has a separated black spot that is distinctly indented just below the posterior intra-alar bristle.

Regardless of all this information, I'm still a liitle uncertain, so even though my captions are only for my own records, they should all be coinsidered 'likely' or 'possible' at best. That said, this page will be routinely updated to add further and/or better photos. At present, I'm only confident with the photos of male Anthomyia procellaris with confluent lateral spots. I have no photos of male Anthomyia pluvialis with clearly separated lateral spots unless, of course, the individual that I think could be Anthomyia imbrida has been misidentified.

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