Transactions of the Society for British Entomology

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VOL. 13

Transactions

OF THE

Society for British
Entomology

World List abbreviation: Trans. Soc. Brit. Ent.

EDITED BY

E. J. POPHAM, D.Sc., Ph.D., A.R.C.S., F.R.E.S.

WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF

W. A. F. BALFOUR-BROWNE, M.A., F.R.S.E., F.L.S.,

F.Z.S., F.R.E.S., F.S.B.E.

W. D. HINCKS, D.Sc., F.R.E.S.

B. M. HOBBY, M.A., D.Phil., F.R.E.S.

G. J. KERRICH, M.A., F.L.S., F.R.E.S.

O. W. RICHARDS, M.A., D.Sc., F.R.E.S., F.S.B.E.

W. H. T. TAMS

Date of Publication: 30th April, 1958

Copies may be purchased from the Publications Secretary,
Department of Entomology, The Museum, Manchester, 13

Price 7s. 6d. post free

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Professor G. C. VARLEY, M.A., Ph.D.

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TRANSACTIONS OF THE Y

FOR BRITISH ENTOMOLOGY

Vol. 13

30th April, 1958

Part 3

A SHORT SYNOPSIS OF THE BRITISH SCATOPHAGIDAE (DlPTERA)

By J. E. Collin, F.R.E.S.

The Scatophagidae (often known as the Cordyluridae) are an interesting
family, because while all, or most, of the genera exhibit certain characters of
the more specialized Tachinidae and Muscidae, for instance all have a
complete longitudinal fissure to second antennal joint, and the majority of
the genera have abdominal spiracles situated on the tergites, either all, or
most, of the genera also retain certain primitive characters, such as less
obviously fused first and second abdominal segments, eight segments in male
before the genitalia (seventh quite small and always fused with eighth), both
sexes dichoptic, and thoracic squamae vestigial. The possession of so many
primitive characters by species in this family has caused Enderlein (1936) to
give them the name of Protomuscaria, and there is certainly some justification
for his suggestion. Primitive characters, however, are seldom of much use
in defining groups within a family, because they have a way of occurring in
species of widely different groups, or even families. For instance, eight
apparent abdominal segments in the male are to be found in both the
Anthomyiidae and some of the Acalyptrate Muscidae, while dichoptic males,
and species with vestigial thoracic squamae, occur in the Anthomyiidae.

The Scatophagidae may be known by the following combination of
characters: Second antennal joint with distinct and complete longitudinal
fissure; frons wide in both sexes, without a pair of crossed bristles on
frontalia, but with incurved lower orbital bristles (except in Hydromyza
which has all bristles very short); no fine hairs beneath tip of scutellum; no
indication of a lobe to thoracal squamae, and no strong costal spine at end of
first wing vein.

While the majority of the genera have the abdominal spiracles on the
tergites (at times some distance from sidemargin), they may be very near, or
even on the edge of the tergite, or some on the edge, and others in the
membrane ( Amaurosoma ), or in membrane extremely close to tergite ( Delina ),
or definitely all in the membrane {Hydromyza).

A3

38

[April

The Scatophagidae are not easily distinguished from the Anthomyiidae, or
from some of the families of the Acalyptrate Muscidae, but the few British
Anthomyids with vestigial thoracic squamae such as Fucellia , Chelisia and
Chiastochaeta have cruciate bristles on frontalia, while the Acalyptrates are
usually much less chaetophorous, especially seldom with strong bristles on
tibiae, and often have no complete longitudinal fissure to second antennal
joint, if this fissure should be present, or partially indicated, the vibrissae, or
the axillary vein on anal lobe of wing is missing.

This is a family in which the species exhibit a great variety of characters
such as one would normally accept as at least of group importance, but when
one attempts to make use of them for that purpose, many prove useless. As
a consequence while species may often be easily identified, a correct phylo¬
genetic grouping of those species is a matter of great difficulty.

A decision on the relative phylogenetic importance of these characters may
often be arrived at by a study of the male genitalia, and Dr. Hackman in a
recent (1956) revision of the family, as found in Finland, has given a large
number of very useful figures of these organs, and indicated some resem¬
blances, but actually it is only when some of the two different sets of
characters (general and genital) show indications of correlation that one can
be satisfied of their group significance. It would appear to be because of
Dr. Hackman’s lack of appreciation of this fact that I differ from him in
dividing the genera in his Groups 1, 2, and 3 somewhat differently into two,
and not three. Groups. Of the genera in his Group 1, 1 place Micropselapha ,
Leptopa , and Americina ( Chylizosoma ) in the Delininae (his Group 3), and
feel certain that the same treatment would be correct for at least Cnemopogon
and Megaphthalmoides of his Group 2, two other genera in this group being
unknown to me, namely Gonarcticus and Hexamitocera.

I further agree with him in regard to the close relationship of the genera
placed by him in his Groups 5, 6, and 9, but of the genera known to me in
his Group 8, I consider that Acanthocnema should not be included in his
Hydromyzinae because of the different orientation of its orbital bristles.

Dr. Hackman has correctly called attention to the great similarity in the
male genitalia of Delina , Micropselapha , and Americina ( Chylizosoma ), but
nevertheless placed them in three different groups. In doing so it would
appear that he placed too great a value upon the number of sternopleural
bristles, and overlooked other apparently more important characters.

Previous students have usually followed Becker (1894) in dividing the
family into five subfamilies, but there would appear to be only two natural
groups. In the larger of these, the Scatophaginae, most of the genera included
by Becker in his Hydromyzinae exhibit a distinctive arrangement of the
frontal bristles (as described in couplet 24 (15) in the following table of
genera) such as might be considered to indicate another subfamily (or at
least tribe), but Becker’s type genus Hydromyza differs in so many respects
from the other Hydromyzinae that its selection as typical was most
unfortunate.

1958]

39

The most widely distributed and common species are those of the genus
Scatophaga, especially 5. stercoraria which, as its name indicates, is essentially
a “dung fly.” Other genera are strictly boreal in distribution, and only found
in this country in Scotland, where further collecting may yet disclose the
presence of some hitherto unrecorded species.

Table of subfamilies

1 (2). Prothoracic episternite (pleural sclerite of prothorax) bare. Six

apparent abdominal tergites in male before hypopygium, the first
two more or less fused together and easily mistaken for one, sixth
tergite fused with seventh and eighth, so as to give the appearance
of one tergite. In females seventh and eighth segments (or one of
them) all small and of similar structure and chaetotaxy, often all
hidden . Delininae

2 (1). Prothoracic episternite hairy. Seven apparent tergites in male before

hypopygium, sixth tergite either quite distinct from seventh and
eighth, or only partially fused on left, with the rest of line of fusion
fairly conspicuous, seventh tergite very small, only visible on left
side, and fused with eighth, or with sixth and eighth. In females,
seventh and eighth segments, or one of them, differing considerably
in texture and chaetotaxy from sixth, and often structurally
modified, never all hidden . Scatophaginae

Table of genera of Delininae

1 (4). Two almost equally long and strong (antero- and postero-ventral)

spurs to hind tibiae. Prealar bristle (anterior supra-alar) present
even if small.

2 (3). One or two long dark sternopleural bristles, and a number of long fine

hairs. Third antennal joint small and short .

. Delina Desv. ( Clidogastra Mcq.)

3 (2). Three strong dark sternopleural bristles. Third antennal joint large

and long, extending to mouthedge . Cnemopogon Rdi

4 (1). Only one (anteroventral) spur to hind tibiae. Only one sternopleural

bristle. No prealar bristle.

5 (6). Vibrissae normal, directed forwards. Jowls devoid of strong bristles

. Americina Mall. ( Chylizosoma Hend.)

6 (5). A cluster of vibrissae directed downwards, and another cluster of

three-four strong bristles on posterior part of jowls below eyes ....
. Leptopa Zett.

B3

40

[April

Delina nigrita Fin. The only British species, which is probably widely
distributed. I possess specimens from Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambs., and
from the counties of Dumbarton, Fife and Inverness in Scotland. Its larvae
are said to mine the leaves of Orchis and Platanthera.

Cnemopogon apicalis Mg. A species somewhat like a Cordylura but arista
only pubescent, and palpi without a long strong bristle at tip. My records
are from Hereford, Gloucester, Hants, Essex, Suffolk and Norfolk. It is to
be found among Phragmites , and the larvae are said to be predacious, which
is very unusual in this subfamily.

Americina vittata Mg. This was formerly considered to be a Parallelomma.
It was common on the Inverness banks of the river Spey at Grantown in
1937, but I have specimens also from Ross and Perthshire, and English
records from Kent and Cambs. In this species the third antennal joint is
clear yellow, and the terminal bristle of palpi not as strong as vibrissa,
whereas in paridis the third antennal joint is dark, and the bristle on palpi
stronger and longer than vibrissa. Its larvae mine the leaves of various species
of Orchid.

Americina paridis Hering. I have seen a pair only of this species, the male
taken by Mr. C. A. Cheetham at Chapel-le-Dale (Yorks.) on 16th May, 1921,
and a female by myself at Woodditton Wood (Cambs.) on 29th May, 1908. It
should be sought where Paris quadrifolia grows, the leaves of which are
mined by the larvae.

Leptopa filiformis Zett. The only species in the genus which has been
taken by me in Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambs., and by Col. Yerbury in
Glamorgan.

Table of genera of Scatophaginae

1 (6). Two almost equally long and strong apical spurs (antero- and

postero-ventral) to hind tibiae. Second vein usually setulose
above towards tip, but not in Cordylura pudica.

2 (5). Only one sternopleural bristle. Arista long haired.

3 (4). Anal vein extended to wingmargin. Three strong upper orbital

bristles . 1. Cordylura Fin.

4 (3). Anal vein not extended to wingmargin. Only two strong upper

orbitals in the single British species . 2. Parallelomma Beck.

5 (2). Two or three sternopleural bristles. Arista bare or microscopically

pubescent. Four strong scutellar bristles _ 3. Gona therus Rdi.

6 (1). Only one (anteroventral) spur to hind tibiae, the posteroventral one

missing or very short. Second vein usually bare.

7 (12). Only two strong scutellar bristles.

8 (9). More than one sternopleural bristle . 4. Amaurosoma Beck.

9 (8). Only one sternopleural bristle.

4i

1958]

10 (n). Front femora and tibiae with a double row of very strong spines

beneath . 5. Norellisoma Hend.

11 (10). Front femora and tibiae without spines beneath

. 6. Megaphthalma Beck.

12 (7). Four strong scutellar bristles.

13 (14). Second vein with a few setulae on upper side towards end. Front

margin of humeri, with a fringe of short strong bristles .

. 7. Gymnomera Rdi.

14 (13). Second vein bare above at end. Humeri without fringe of bristles

in front.

15 (24). Front bristle only of upper frontal bristles pointing forward, the

other two reclinate, or all three turned outward.

16 (19). Front tibiae beneath with a double row of very small, closely set,

black spines. Palpi shorter and somewhat spatulate. Only one
supra-alar bristle.

17(18). Front orbital bristle pointing forwards, other two more or less
outwards . 8. Acanthocnema Beck.

1 8 (17). All three orbitals long and curved outwards . . 9. Clinoceroides Hend.

19 (16). Front tibiae with rather long fine hairs beneath, and no minute

black spines. Palpi long and slender. Two supra-alar bristles.

20 (21). Front tibiae with a distinct anteroventral spinose bristle before, and

another at, tip . 10. Ceratinostoma Mde.

21 (20). Front tibiae at least without anteroventral spine before tip, usually

also without one at tip.

22 (23). Male abdomen clothed with fine, long, outstanding hairs, not

bristle-like even on hindmargins of tergites. Head in profile with
upper part of occiput more rounded, thus making a more even
curve with vertex and frons . 1 1 . Scatophaga Mg.

[April

42

23 (22). Male abdominal tergites with short adpressed hairs, except for

longer hindmarginal bristles. Head in profile with upper part of
occiput flatter, consequently less rounded at junction with vertex
. 12. Coniosternum Beck.

24 (15). Two front bristles of upper frontals pointing forwards, or ( Hydro -

myza) three very short and small bristles pointing forwards.

25 (26). Two sternopleural bristles, the front one shorter and finer, other

pubescence on sternopleura short and pale. Third antennal joint
pointed at tip above . 13. Chaetosa Coq.

26 (25). Only one sternopleural.

27 (28). All bristles on body and legs very short, three very small proclimate

frontal bristles . 14. Hydromyza Fin.

28 (27). Bristles of normal length, posterior bristle of three upper frontal

bristles pointing backwards.

29 (30). Wings with rounded brown spots on veins, often associated with

adventitious veinlets. Pteropleura hairy . ... 15. Ernoneura Beck.

30 (29). Wings without brown spots or veinlets. Pteropleura bare.

31 (34). Front tibiae with an anteroventral row of closely placed short spines.

32 (33). Male hypopygium with a tuft of very long yellow bristles on each

side. Front femora with black spines beneath, or at least (in
female) with short black bristles beneath . 16. Pogonota Zett.

33 (32). Male hypopygium without tuft. Front femora with only fine hairs

beneath . 17. Microprosopa Beck.

34 (31). Front tibiae without spines beneath.

35 (36). Distinct propleural and stigmatical bristles above front coxae.

A second short but distinct supra-alar (prealar) bristle .

. 18. Trichopalpus Rdi.

36 (35)- Usually only a yellowish propleural bristle, and no distinct stig¬

matical bristle. Prealar bristle absent _ 19. Spathiophora Rdi.

1958]

43

i. Cordylura Fallen
Table of species

1 (14). Scutellum with four strong bristles.

2 (13). Palpi dark.

3 (8). All tibiae equally yellow.

4 (7). Tarsi darkened beneath at base of last four joints. Second vein

setulose above towards its end.

5 (6).

6 (5).

7 (4)-

8 (3).

9 (10).

10 (9).

11 (12).

12 (il).

13 (2).

14 (1).

15 (16).

16 (15).

Male genital paralobes broader, very deeply split longitudinally,
and with rectangular upper basal corner. Arista longer haired.
No distinct prescutellar acrostichals . pubera Fin.

Male genital paralobes more ovate with only a short cleft at tip, and
a rounded upper basal corner (fig. 1). Arista shorter haired.
A distinct pair of prescutellar acrostichals . aemula sp.n.

Tarsi not darkened at base of joints beneath. Third antennal joint
with upcurved pointed tip. Second vein bare above, .pudica Mg.

Hind tibiae brownish, or all tibiae dark. Second vein setulose above
towards tip.

Only hind tibiae brownish. Thorax dusted. Femora yellowish at
extreme tip. Only 1-2 small setae on second vein, .rufimana Mg.

All tibiae dark. Second vein with more numerous setae.

Larger species (8-9 mm.), more shining, and without acrostichals.
Third antennal joint with a long bristle on outer side below base
of arista . ciliata Mg.

Smaller (5 mm.) somewhat dusted species, with only a few small
acrostichals, and no bristle on third antennal joint. . . .atrata Zett.

Palpi yellow. All tibiae and tarsi yellow, or only hind tarsi
yellowish-brown . similis Siebke.

Scutellum with only two strong bristles.

Larger species (8-9 mm.) with yellow tibiae .

. impudica Rdi. ( umbrosa Lw.)

Smaller species (6 mm.) with dark tibiae. . . .picipes Mg. (biseta Lw.)

Cordylura pubera F. is a widespread, but not common species, which I can
record from Hants, Surrey, Oxford and Cambs. in England, Brecknock in
Wales, and Inverness-shire in Scotland.

Cordylura aemula sp. n. A species closely resembling pubera , but with very
different male genitalia.

44

[April

<$. Compared with pubera : Arista rather less densely, and shorter, haired.
Thorax slightly more dusted greyish; prescutellar acrostichals stonger and
more distinct. Abdomen slightly more dusted greyish, in addition to fine
pale hairs being present about base and at sides of first three tergites, they

Fig. i. Upper fig., Cordylura aemida sp.n. Lower fig., Cordylura pubera F.
Outline of ninth tergite and paralobe, viewed from left.

(a) paralobe, (b) ninth tergite, (c) mesolobe.

are also present at sides of fourth and fifth tergites, and on lobes of fifth
sternite; some pale hairs also on hypopygium. Front femora with more
numerous pale hairs; front tarsi rather shorter, and last joint not so black;
middle tibiae with mainly pale posteroventral hairs; hind femora rather
stouter and with longer pale hairs beneath; hind tibiae less hairy beneath,
bearing only a few outstanding pale bristle hairs posteroventrally, and only
one anteroventral bristle (towards tip). Male genital paralobes very different
in shape (fig. i).

1958]

45

9. Less easily distinguished from females of pubera , but differing as in
male in having shorter haired arista, distinct prescutellar acrostichals, and
shorter tarsi.

Length about 8-9 mm.

Described from specimens taken at Barton Mills (Suffolk) on 3^.1935,
some having been taken there previously in May 1909. I have also found it
at Horning Ferry (Norfolk).

C. pudica Mg. Not uncommon in Scotland (various localities in Inverness-
shire), but also found in Suffolk and Warwickshire.

C. rufimana Mg. All my specimens are from Scotland (Inverness-shire).

C. ciliata Mg. All my records are from the south : Sussex, Hants, Hereford,
Gloucester, Cambs., Suffolk and Norfolk, but I have no doubt that it has a
still wider distribution.

C. atrata Zett. Another northern species with records from Scotland only.

C. similis Siebke. This is a very little known species first discovered in this
country by Col. Yerbury on the banks of the Spey at Aviemore. Under his
guidance I took a series of specimens at the same spot in 1913, and visits
there more than twenty years later have proved that it still occurs in this
locality.

The species was originally described from the male only, taken at
Ostendalen, Norway, NE. of Oslo, at between 61 0 and 62° N. latitude, and
is obviously very closely related to the more arctic C. picticornis Lw. described
from the female only, taken in “Siberia,” and since recorded from northern
Finland between 66° and 70° N. latitude, while it has also been recorded
from arctic North America.

A comparison of my specimens of similis from Aviemore (slightly more
than 570 N. latitude) with specimens of picticornis from Alaska, makes it
appear advisable to retain the name of similis for them, and there may be
some question in regard to the identity of the specimens found in Finland
and identified as picticornis by Dr. Hackman (1956).

The Scottish specimens are less strongly bristled than in picticornis from
Alaska. Notably all tibiae with much shorter and less outstanding fine
setulae, especially those beneath; in picticornis these setulae are decidedly
longer than the tibiae are thick. All the femora of similis are of the same
colour in both sexes , i.e. all dark except narrowly at tip, but while those of
male picticornis are similarly coloured, those of the female are all yellow except
front femora above, as described for the female by Loew, and as in the
female from Alaska.

C. impudica Rdi. This is the C. umbrosa Lw. of the British List. It is not
at all an uncommon species in the south.

C. picipes Mg. ( biseta Lw.). An uncommon species known to me only from
Cambs., Herefordshire and Suffolk.

46

[April

2. Parallelomma Becker

P. albipes Fin. This is a common species throughout Britain up to Loch
Maree in Scotland, and is very variable in colour. There is only one, instead
of the usual two, reclinate upper orbital bristles on frons. The larvae mine
the leaves of various Liliaceae.

3. Gonatherus Rdi.

G. planiceps Fin. Only found high up on the hills in Scotland, where Dr.
F. W. Edwards first found it, in Perthshire, in 1932. Two years later I took
specimens near the summit of the Aviemore-Braemar Pass.

4. Amaurosoma Becker
Table of species

1 (4). All femora yellow, or at most only front femors with a darkened

streak above.

2 (3). Thorax partly shining, pleurae with shining patches .

. brevifrons Zett.

3 (2). Thorax and pleurae all dusted . flavipes Mg.

4 (1). Femora largely or entirely dark.

5 (6). Front femora without anteroventral black bristles _ inerme Beck.

6 (5). Front femora with at least a few black anteroventral bristles, often

a large patch of such bristles.

7 (10). Front femora with many (at least 9-10) anteroventral black bristles.

8 (9). Male: Front tibiae without a bristle behind close to the pair of

bristles above (though present in female) and four posterior
tibiae with an anteroventral bristle; second joint of arista rather
long; crossveins more approximated. Female: Antennae larger;
a more or less strong black bristle on posterior part of jowls
below eyes; crossveins more approximated; usually a postero-
ventral bristle to hind femora at middle, and an anteroventral
bristle to hind tibiae . tibiella Zett.

9 (8). Male: Front tibiae with a bristle behind close to the pair of bristles

above, and no anteroventral to four posterior tibiae; second joint
of arista short ; crossveins not so approximated. Female : Antennae
smaller; no strong bristle on jowls behind; crossveins less
approximated; no posteroventral bristle to hind femora at middle;
and often no anteroventral bristle to hind tibiae . . . .fasciatum Mg.

10 (7). Front femora with only 5-6 anteroventral black bristles, three being
longer than others . armillatum Zett.

1958]

47

A. brevifrons Zett. is a Scottish species (Edinburgh and Inverness-shire),
but I possess a female taken by Mr. J. W. Saunt at Stoke (Warwickshire).

A. flavipes Mg. has been bred from seed-heads of Timothy-grass. It
appears to be local in distribution. My records are from Suffolk, Essex and
Oxford.

A. inerme Beck. Apparently widely distributed with specimens from
Merioneth, Hants, Suffolk and Inverness-shire. It is said to occur especially
on Calamagrostis.

A. tibiella Zett., and A. fasciatum Mg. xThese two species have hitherto
been distinguished by the darker colour of the femora in the former,
fasciatum having them yellowish about base and tip, but I do not find this to
be at all reliable, so have proposed other characters. Both species are
common and widespread. Dr. W. Hackman (1956) has expressed the belief
that nigripes Zett. and tibiella Zett. are merely varieties of one species for
which he uses the name nigripes Zett. He gave a figure of the male genitalia
of a type from Zetterstedt’s Collection, but as the genitalia of our British
tibiella do not entirely agree with this figure I am retaining the use of that
name for our British species.

A. armillatum Zett. Here again the colour of hind femora appear to vary,
but the smaller number of black bristles beneath front femora is distinctive
of the species which I can record from Cambs. and Suffolk in England, and
Dumbarton in Scotland. On the Continent it is said to be a pest on Phleum.

5. Norellisoma Hendel

The genus Norellia having been founded on one species only ( pseudo¬
narcissi — spinipes Mg.) which is generically distinct from our British species,
Hendel’s name of Norellisoma must take the place of Norellia Desv. in our
British List.

Table of species

1 (2). Arista short plumose. Larger species. Lobes of male fifth abdominal

sternite long, curved and flattened with tiny black spines along
inner margin . spinimanum Fin.

2 (1). Arista only pubescent. Smaller species (4-5 mm.).

3 (4). Abdomen dull grey like thorax. Each lobe to fifth sternite in male

ending in a bluntly bilobed tip . ; .

. flavicorne Mg. ( liturata Beck. nec. Mg.)

4 (3). Abdomen more shining (expecially at sides) than thorax. Each lobe

of fifth sternite in male ending in a simple blunt point .

. lituratum Mg. ( spinigera Zett.)

(No other species has been correctly recorded as British.)

48 [April

N. spinimanum Fin. is not an uncommon species, the larvae of which are
said to live in the stems of Ramex.

N. flavicorne Mg. may be swept from Spiraea.

N. lituratum Mg. has been frequently found in Scotland, but I have British
records from Hants, Hereford and Warwick.

This last species was attributed by Meigen to Wiedemann, and the
specimens in Wiedemann’s Collection at Vienna must be the types (not those
at Paris as accepted by Becker in 1902), also Meigen’s description applies far
better to the Vienna specimens (the species we have known as spinigera Zett.).
N. flavicorne on the other hand was described from specimens in Baumhauer’s
Collection, and though according to Becker (1902) the single male in Meigen’s
Collection (probably that stated by Meigen to be “auch einmal hier
gefangen”) is a specimen of spinigera Zett., the description given by Meigen
does not agree with this specimen, but does agree with the species Becker
called liturata. The two species therefore should in future be known under
the two names given in the above table.

6. Megaphthalma Becker

We have only one British species, M. pallida Fin., which is widely
distributed in wooded districts.

7. Gymnomera Rondani

Again only one British species, G. tarsea Fin., recorded from various
localities in Scotland, but also found by me in the Norfolk Broads in 1930.
G. dorsata Zett. was incorrectly recorded as British by Dr. Meade upon a
specimen of Leptopa filiformis Zett.

8. Acanthocnema Becker

A. nigrimana Zett. is a brown species with legs mainly yellow, and front of
frons yellow, third antennal joint yellow in male but darkened towards tip in
female; hairs on jowls, front coxae, and proboscis longer in male than in
female. Like the next species it remains a rarity in this country, the only
specimens additional to those already recorded being a female taken by
myself at Llangrwyney (Brecknock) in August 1910, and another female
taken by Dr. C. G. Lamb in the Island of Lewis in July 1914.

49

1958]

9. Clinoceroides Hendel

C. glaucescens Lw. is a dark, glaucous insect with dark legs and front of
frons, and darkened wings, third antennal joint dark in both sexes. It stood
in Verrall’s List, by a lapsus , as Acanthocnema glauca Lw., and was
redescribed by Ringdahl in 1936 as A. nigripes sp. n. It still remains a rarity,
the only additional specimens known to me being a pair taken by myself at
Bickleigh (Devon) in May 1914, and a male by Mr. H. Britten in the Goyt
Valley (Cheshire) in April 1926.

10. Ceratinostoma Meade

The one species, C. osteriorum Hal., is essentially a sea-coast species
occurring from Inverness and the Isle of Arran down to the south coast of
England.

11. Scatophaga Meigen
Table of species

1 (20). Arista long haired.

2 (5). Area between base of abdomen (beneath) and hind coxae not

divided vertically by a membraneous strip. Fourth and fifth
veins converging towards tip.

3 (4). Large species, with (in male) large broad yellowish-brown wings,

front femora entirely yellow, middle tibiae with two antero-
and postero-dorsal bristles . scybalaria L.

4 (3). Smaller, and with normal sized wings in male, front femora with a

dark posteroventral streak, and middle tibiae with only one

antero-, and one postero-dorsal, bristle .

. scybalaria var. anomala, n.

5 (2). Area between base of abdomen and hind coxae with a vertical

membraneous strip widening out above and below. Fourth and
fifth veins parallel.

6 (17). Pteropleurae bare. No bristle beneath middle tibiae.

7 (10). Fifth abdominal sternite of male with a pair of small projecting

median lobes, not merely with an indentation at middle of hind-
margin. Seventh abdominal segment of female shining. Hind
femora of male without, of female with, an anterodorsal row of
distinct bristles.

50

[April

8 (9). Crossveins not infuscated. Humeri similar in colour and dusting to

rest of thorax . taeniopa Rdi.

9 (8). Crossveins of wings distinctly though narrowly infuscated. Humeri
yellow in contrast to grey-dusted thorax . suilla F.

10 (7). Fifth abdominal sternite of male without projecting lobes. Seventh

abdominal segment of female dull like others. Hind femora in
both sexes with an anterodorsal row of distinct bristles.

11 (12). Male abdomen entirely yellow, and yellow haired. Fifth sternite of

male with tiny black spines on hindmargin near median indenta¬
tion. Female characters uncertain. The first species of this
group to appear in the spring . analis Mg.

12 (11). Male abdomen not entirely yellow (at least hindmargins of tergites

darkened), and some dark hairs mixed with yellow ones towards
end of abdomen. Fifth male sternite with only fine hairs near
median indentation.

13 (16). Front femora absolutely immaculate.

14 (15). More yellowish-grey species with humeri and scutellum more

extensively yellow. Abdomen often only darkened about base, or
on hindmargins of tergites . lutaria F.

15 (14). More blackish-grey species with upper surface of humeri the same

colour as rest of thorax. Abdomen more extensively greyish. . . .
. lutaria var. inquinata Mg.

16 (13). Front femora with darkened streak above, sometimes only faint. .

. lutaria var. maculipes Zett.

17 (6). Pteropleurae hairy. Both antero- and postero- ventral bristles

beneath middle tibiae.

18 (19). Male abdomen without dark hairs except on hypopygium. Usually

large reddish-yellow haired species . stercoraria L.

19 (18). Male abdomen with dark hairs mixed with pale ones. Smaller grey¬

haired species . stercoraria var. merdaria , F.

20 (1). Arista bare or microscopically pubescent _ (Subg. Scatina Desv.)

21 (26). Pteropleurae bare. Both crossveins conspicuously clouded. Acro-

stichals on thorax fine and few in number.

51

1958]

22 (25). Fifth sternite of male abdomen with small projecting median lobes.

Humeri same colour as thorax. Crossveins not very broadly
infuscated.

23 (24). Front coxae mainly pale, and four posterior femora entirely pale.

Both a bristle beneath, and a posteroventrai bristle, to middle
tibiae, and an anteroventral bristle to hind tibiae .... squalida Mg.

24 (23). Front coxae dark, four posterior femora with a broad dark ring about

middle. Only a posteroventrai bristle to middle, and no antero¬
ventral bristle to hind tibiae. (Male only) . varipes Holmg.

25 (22). Fifth sternite of male abdomen with large side lobes. Humeri

yellowish at least below. Crossveins broadly infuscated. Female
with shorter pleural hairs than in squalida , and usually at least
one distinct propleural bristle . pictipennis Oidenb.

26 (21). Pteropleurae hairy. Cross veins not clouded. Acrostichals strong

and numerous, biserial with the rows close together.

27 (28). Hind tibiae of male with 3-4 pairs of spinose bristles above, and at

least one such bristle anteroventrally, other pubescence above not
particularly long. Female with a distinct posterodorsal bristle
near tip of hind femora, and rows of acrostichals more equally
distant from each other, and from dorsocentrals . litorea Fin.

28 (27). Hind tibiae of male above with at most only 1-2 pairs of very long

fine bristles on apical half, otherwise with particularly long out¬
standing hairs even anteroventrally. Female with hind tibiae
normally spinose, hind femora without a distinct posteroventrai
bristle near tip, and rows of acrostichals closer together than
distant from dorsocentrals . calida Hal. ( villipes Zett.)

S. scybalaria L. appears to be an uncommon species. Col. Yerbury found
it in Ireland (Waterville and Loo Bridge), and R. C. Bradley used to take it in
Sutton Park (Warwick). Until 1952, 1 had taken only one specimen (a female)
in the New Forest, but in that year, when collecting with my friend Mr. E. A.
Fonseca in the Forest at Denny Bog, we found it in large numbers on
cow-dung.

S. scybalaria var. anomala var. n. An aberrant male of scybalaria was taken
by Col. Yerbury at Nethy Bridge (Inverness) on 15th June 1900. It is a
greyer insect with humeri and prothorax grey, like rest of thorax; abdomen
dull grey except on pre-hypopygial segments and genitalia, pubescence not
so bright yellow; front femora with a dark posterodorsal streak; middle
tibiae with only one antero- and one postero-dorsal bristle; wings normal in
size and not so intensely yellowish-brown. Length about 7 mm.

52

[April

It superficially resembles a male of S. taeniopa, but the male genitalia of
that species are quite different. The fifth sternite for instance (a character
always visible) has in that species narrow, strongly projecting, median lobes,
while in scybalaria they are mere rounded undulations of the hindmargin.

S. taeniopa Rdi. This species varies in the femoral dark markings, these
may be confined to the front femora only (S. ordinata Beck., which is a
synonym), or present on the four anterior, or on all, femora. Smaller
specimens are usually the darker. It is not uncommon in Scotland, and I have
taken it in Yorkshire, but have no records further south than Nottingham.

S. suilla F. is a common and widespread species. A small slender weakly
bristled form ( scatomyzoides Zett.) occurs in Scotland, in company with the
typical form, but apparently is not specifically distinct.

Y. analis Mg. though closely allied to the next species does exhibit small
differences in the male genitalia. It is also not so common or so widely
distributed. An undoubted male of this species was returned to me by
Becker as S. inquinata Mg., but he must have overlooked its entirely pale
haired abdomen, a character stated by him as distinguishing analis from
inquinata.

S. lutaria F. This species, and the two hitherto included in the British
List as inquinata Mg., and maculipes Zett., have the same chaetotaxy of legs,
and quite similar male genitalia, they differ only in slight colour characters,
and must surely be only forms of one variable species. I have taken a male
maculipes in cop. with a female which could only pass as inquinata. All three
forms are common, and occur together.

S. ster cor aria L. This very common species never has a distinct postero-
dorsal bristle near tip of hind femora in either of its two forms found in
Britain, nor are these femora more than narrowly yellowish at tip.

Y. squalida Mg. is another common and easily recognized species. One
may find aberrant males of this species with the short abdominal pubescence
of a female, these will be found on dissection to be intersexes.

S. furcata Say of N. America is said to be the same species as our squalida.

S. varipes Holmg. A remarkable male taken by me on 3rd of July 1938 at
Bettyhill on the north coast of Sutherland (Scotland), with dark front coxae,
and distinctive chaetotaxy of the four posterior tibiae, may prove to be the
true varipes of Holmgren. It appears to agree very well with his description,
and differs considerably from the northern form of squalida from Spitzbergen
and Jan Mayen which I thought at one time might be varipes. A much
longer series of specimens from North Scotland must be obtained before the
problem of its identity can be considered solved.

1958]

53

S’, pictipennis Oldenb. This is the “S. maculipennis Beck, (in litt.)” of
Verrall’s List of British Diptera 1901. A male taken by Verrall at Rannoch
(Perthshire) in 1870 was returned to me so named by Becker, who however
apparently never published a description. Ringdahl’s description of S.
maculipennis in 1936 applies to the same species, which however appears to
have been described by Oldenberg in 1923 as S. pictipennis. A second male
was taken by Dr. F. W. Edwards at Aviemore (Inverness) in May 1934, and
I took four females the same year in the same district, where Mr. P. Harwood
has also found it sheltering in Juniper bushes in September, and even
November.

S. litorea Fin. is a common, but variable, species widely distributed round
our coasts. It has been recorded, quite incorrectly, as the type of the genus
Scatomyza of Fallen, but was not one of the originally included species.

*S. calida Hal. According to specimens in Haliday’s Collection in Dublin
his S. calida , and S. rudis, are both specimens of S. villipes Zett. S’, calida
being the form with entirely yellow legs (by the word “feet” in his description
Haliday must have meant “legs”), and rudis the form with femora darkened.
In addition to varying in the colour of the legs, this species also varies in the
length and density of the fine hairs on male legs and abdomen. It is another
sea-coast species which has been taken on the north coast of Scotland, in
Wales (Glamorgan), and in the Scilly Isles.

This species is also almost certainly that referred to by Seguy (1934) as
S’, nigricornis Desv. ( rufiventris Vill.), but cannot possibly be Desvoidy’s
nigricornis (1830) because that species (described from a single specimen with
sex not mentioned) was placed by Desvoidy in a genus “ Scatophaga Latr.
Fabr.” restricted to those species with “chetum plumosulum,” while species of
Scatophaga having a bare arista “chetum nudum” (as in Seguy’s 5. nigri¬
cornis) were placed by Desvoidy in a distinct genus “ Scatina .” Apart from
this fact, Desvoidy described his nigricornis as having “Corps de consistance
molle, et d’un jaune pale,” and as it is certain that throughout Desvoidy’s
work the term “corps” included both thorax and abdomen, this would be
incorrect if the species before him had been calida Hal.

Note: I would here call attention to the fact that Scatophaga villosiventris
Ringd. (1937) ( vulpina Ringd. nec Coq.), is almost certainly a synonym of
Scatophaga lanata Lundb. (1904), according to a specimen of the latter
presented to me by its describer.

54

[April

12. Coniosternum Becker

i

•

This genus is closely allied to Scatophaga and was not properly distin¬
guished from that genus by Becker. One species decipiens Hal. (of which
Scatophaga dalmatica Beck, is a synonym) has always been placed in
Scatophaga , and Malloch did not consider the two genera distinct, but the
two British species decipiens Hal. and obscurum Fin. obviously belong to such
a very distinct group by the shape of the head, chaetotaxy of abdomen, and
especially by the structure of the male genitalia, that they may well be
generically separated from Scatophaga.

C. decipiens Hal. is a larger species than obscurum with stronger thoracic
bristles, especially with two distinct intra-alar bristles, which are absent or
only front one developed in obscurum , a posthumeral as well as a presuturai
bristle, and two almost equally strong humeral bristles. The carinate mesolobe
of male genitalia narrowing to a slender incurved tip, is the same in both
species. C. decipiens , described from an Irish specimen, appears in England
to be limited to occurrence in the south and south-east.

C. obscurum Fin. is at present only known from Scotland.

13. Chaetosa Coquillett

C. punctipes Mg. is a common species which I can record from Kent, Hants,
Hereford, Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Cambs. in England; Inverness and
Sutherland in Scotland; and Kerry in Ireland. Its larvae live in various
Gramineae.

14. Hydromyza Fallen

H. livens F. is to be found on Water-lily leaves, in the stems of which the
larvae feed.

15. Ernoneura Becker

E. argus Zett. is a rare species found in Scotland only, and first recorded as
British by Dr. D. Sharp in 1910 from a single specimen taken at Loch Garten
(Inverness), while I caught a pair at Loch Einich in the same district on
30th June 1933.

1958]

55

16. Pogonota Zetterstedt

P. hircus Zett. Another northern insect found about moorland pools.
Ringdahl (1936) used for this species the name of barbata Zett., which was
described a page prior to hircus from an immature specimen such as would
seldom be found. Under these circumstances it cannot be claimed that
“other things are equal,1 ” and the page precedence should be ignored.

17. Microprosopa Becker

M. pallicauda Zett. The M. haemorrhoidalis Mg. of our List is certainly
not that species but pallicauda Zett., of which Ringdahl (1936) figured the
male genitalia. It was indeed recorded under that name by Grimshaw in
1900 (Ann. Scot. Nat. Hist.), and is not uncommon in the Spey Valley
(Inverness-shire). True M. haemorrhoidalis has not yet been found in Britain.

Note: The record of M. heteromyzina Zett. by Meade as a species of
Scatophaga is almost certainly incorrect, this species being known at present
only from Lapland. There is no specimen in Meade’s Collection.

18. Trichopalpus Rondani

T. fraternus Fin. can be recorded from Hants, Warwick, Norfolk, Suffolk,
Essex and Cambs., and will certainly be found elsewhere. Mr. Wallace Pugh
has recently found it in Wales.

19. Spathiophora Rondani

5. hydromyzina Fin. This species is undoubtedly very variable in the
colour of its legs, and fascipes Beck, is only a pale-legged variety of which
specimens have been taken by me at Aldborough (Suffolk) in the same place
as typical hydromyzina . It has been found in various other localities in
England, as well as in Scotland, Wales and Ireland. In 1918 I bred specimens
from larvae feeding on Cabbage-roots attacked by the Club-root fungus.

56

References of special importance

Becker, T., 1894. Berl. ent. Z., 39: 77-196.

- 1902. Zeitschr. Hym. u. Dipt., 2: 214.

Enderlein, G., 1936. Die. Tierw. Mitteleur., 6 (3) (Diptera): 131.
Hackman, W., 1956. Faun. Fenn., 2: 1-67.

Meade, R. H., 1899. Ent. mon. Mag., 35: 32.

Ringdahl, O., 1936. Ent. Tidsk., 57: 158-79.

- 1937. Ent. Tidsk., 58: 36.

Robineau-Desvoidy, A. J. B., 1830. Essai s.l. Myod., 627.

S6guy, E., 1934. Faune de France, 28: 694.

Sharp, D., 1910. Ent. mon. Mag., 46: 274.

SOCIETY FOR BRITISH ENTOMOLOGY

OFFICERS AND COUNCIL, 1957-8

President:

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CONTENTS

- i

J. E. Collin, F.R.E.S.: A short synopsis of the British Scatophagidae
(Diptera).

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