DIPTERA > BRACHYCERA | Higher Diptera

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

(subfamilies: Anthomyiinae and Pegomyiinae)

At present, the only other non-coastal genus that I'm in a position to discuss separately is Hydrophoria.

There are five recognised species, Hydrophoria lancifer and Hydrophoria ruralis, both of which are relatively common; and Hydrophoria linogrisea, which is far scarcer generally and, surprisingly, a species that has never been officially recorded from Dorset (VC9). Effectively those are the only three species that need to be considered. The others are Hydrophoria silvicola with only a handful of scattered records and, realistically, a species that is unlikely to be recognised from a chance sighting; and Hydrophoria diabata that in recent years has only had four confirmed sightings all from Yorkshire or Scotland.

Unfortunately, I can't find much general information about these particular species at present other than that the adults frequently visit flowers and are more likely to be found in damp habitats near their larval feeding grounds. Steven Falk has an album with various photos of the three species mentioned, but does not provide any written descriptions, so I can only refer to the official identification 'key'.

As previously noted, these species could be confused with Hylemya so, if possible, look for a well-developed lower calypter that on side view projects beyond the upper calypter; arista again long and plumose; legs wholly or partly yellow.

Distinguishing both males and females via their leg colour:

Hydrophoria lancifer - mid and hind femora black (dark),

Hydrophoria ruralis - mid and hind femora black (dark), tibia more or less yellow at least in basal half,

Hydrophoria linogrisea - mid and hind femora yellow to brownish- or reddish-yellow.

The 'key' also makes note that Hydrophoria lancifer males have an abdomen without any dark fore-marginal bands, whereas Hydrophoria ruralis presumably does, although with this species, it's described as generally with translucent yellowish areas at the base. There is no likewise information provided for Hydrophoria lingogrisea, but that species is easily distinguished simply by the colour of its legs. Interestingly, the notes about abdominal banding are not repeated when keying out females.

Please use the 'previous page' (<) button above to cycle back to the introduction,

or the forward 'next button' (>) to move on to a final page of coastal species

New page, Oct.24 (v.1)