DIPTERA > BRACHYCERA | Higher Diptera

MUSCOMORPHA > SCHIZOPHORA > Calyptratae > Muscoidea > Muscidae (293 species)

(subfamily: Phaoniinae)

Phaoniinae (cont.)

Phaonia

As previously noted, Phaonia is the largest genus of muscids with 48 described species, however less than half that number are likely to be seen by the casual observer. They are highly variable in appearance and my notes here only refer to some of the more common species that I've photographed and been able to identify. The most notable local species missing from my list is Phaonia errans, which is rather similar to Phaonia tuguriorum.

Phaonia angelicae - a medium-large (7.5-10mm BL) species with a densely dusted greyish-beige to brownish body, with the females having a slightly darker abdomen. The thorax has dark and pale stripes both in front and behind the suture, and four pairs of postsutural dorsocentrals and no strong presutural acrostichals. The wings have conspicuously yellow bases with no hint of clouded cross-veins. Another useful identifying feature, subject to the correct angle of view, is that the lower mouth edge protrudes somewhat beyond the front of the fons.

Phaonia pallida - a distinctive and attractive medium-sized (5.5-7.5mm BL) orange species that cannot be mistaken for any other Phaonia, but where males particularly could be confused with Thricops diaphanus. Females can be distinguished by the orange rather dark frontal area between the eyes, but the males are more difficult unless they have the characteristic darkened patch on the front of the thorax. But, they also lack the ventral spur towards the tip of the hind tibiae that is present in Thricops diaphanus.

Phaonia rufiventris - a medium-sized (6.5-8mm BL) orange-bodied species with a grey, dark-striped thoracic dorsum, orange humeri and predominantly orange scutellum. It could be confused with Phaonia subventa, but is separable by having much narrower stripes where the central pair are around a third of the width of the pale median stripe that separates them. In most cases the scutellum is entirely orange, but in some individuals the base may be darkened. 

Phaonia subventa - as previously noted, this similar sized (6.5-8mm BL) species is very similar to Phaonia rufiventris but, apart from the generally darker and wider stripes on the thorax, can be differentiated by having two pairs of presutural acrostichal bristles and two posterior bristles on the mid-tibia. The bulge on the outer wing is characteristic of the Phaonia genus.

Phaonia tuguriorum - a dull brown medium-sized (6-7.5mm BL) species with darker transverse blotches on the abdomen, orangey-red femora with the front one often being darkened, a reddish tip to the scutellum and heavily infuscated cross-veins.

Phaonia valida - the largest Phaonia species and, in fact, with a body length of around 10-11mm, the second largest muscid after Mesembrina meridiana. It has a densely grey and beige-dusted body with four dark stripes and an abdomen with a conspicuous pattern of shifting tessellations. Although the underlying colour of the scutellum is orange, as are the legs apart from the darker tarsi, it is usually very heavily dusted. Interestingly, this species has never been officially recorded from my local area.

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