[NatureNS] tabanid fly

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From: Randy Lauff <randy.lauff@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 12 Aug 2014 16:51:27 -0300
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Thanks for the offer to collect the flies. There are two ways to easily
store them, 1. in a vial with rubbing alcohol (70% isopropanol) or 2. in a
vial in a freezer (you can put them in a baggie instead, but then the
baggie should go into a box so the specimens don't get crushed.

Each vial or bag should have its own label with the date and locale of
capture, and the name of the person who captured the insects. More
information is appreciated (like "was sucking blood from my arm..."), but
the date/locale/collector is considered to be the baseline data we prefer
to have with each specimen.

Of course, if you happen to have proper entomology pins and know how to
curate the insects, then that's even better, but it's absolutely no big
deal if you don't!

I had someone bring in a Sawfly (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cimbicidae)
today in alcohol...they wanted it identified, but strangely (?) wanted to
keep it! Darn!

Randy

_________________________________
RF Lauff
Way in the boonies of
Antigonish County, NS.


On 12 August 2014 16:36, nancy dowd <nancypdowd@gmail.com> wrote:

> Thanks for all of your help. I am still wading through it and will add
> your suggestions to the comment area of the image on BugGuide for their
> experts to consider as well.
>
> Sorry I did not collect this fly- but will if it turns up again in the
> near future. Plus other male Tabanids if I come across them.
>
> Nancy
> On 2014-08-12, at 9:40 AM, Randy Lauff <randy.lauff@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > I'd tend to lean towards Atylotus myself. I worked a couple years with
> Horse and Deer Flies, one summer collecting them every day from a trap
> which was largely selective for them (i.e. little by-catch). I caught
> thousands that summer, all but one were female**. Like all of our blood
> feeders, only the females bite, so traps which mimic prey, either by sigh=
t
> or smell, attract the females. The males often look different enough from
> females to make one think they're altogether a different species
> (especially given how often closely related insects can be difficult to
> separate). They're so different in fact, that Teskey's book (
> https://s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/yumpu/yumpu.com/000/022/513/783/138849=
6805_4971/small/THE_INSECTS_AND_ARACHNIDS000001.jpg)
> uses separate keys for the sexes.
> >
> > Nancy...on the very remote chance you actually collected that fly...I'd
> love to have it if you don't want it. Males are quite valuable (from a
> scientific standpoint) in collections.
> >
> > Randy
> >
> > **The paper summarizing all the findings is in prep right now, though w=
e
> did publish a more theoretical paper already:
> > Positive interspecific relationship between temporal occurrence and
> abundance in insects. It's a heavy read, but if you're interested, can be
> found here:
> http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.001898=
2#pone-0018982-g001
> >
> > _________________________________
> > RF Lauff
> > Way in the boonies of
> > Antigonish County, NS.
> >
> >
> > On 12 August 2014 08:51, David McCorquodale <dbmcc09@gmail.com> wrote:
> > Nancy and Steve:
> >
> > There are two Canadian Journal of Arthropod Identification articles on
> tabanids (horse and deer flies =E2=80=93 the ones with patterned wings). =
 Both were
> written by Tony Thomas of New Brunswick.  They provide a great introducti=
on
> and build on the work of Teskey, formerly of the Canadian National Insect
> Collection.  Here is the link to the one that deals with the horse flies.
> http://www.biology.ualberta.ca/bsc/ejournal/t_13/t_13.html
> >
> >
> > I am not sure which horse fly this is.  A brief scan through BugGuide
> and Steve Marshall=E2=80=99s =E2=80=98Flies=E2=80=99 suggests that Atylot=
us bicolor would be a
> possibility.  Here is a link to one on BugGuide:
> http://bugguide.net/node/view/673858/bgpage.
> >
> >
> > This is a male because of the eyes meeting in the centre of the face.
>  Unfortunately most of the identification materials focus on the females.
> >
> > DBMcC
> > Georges River, NS
> >
> >
> > David McCorquodale
> > Georges River, NS
> >
> >
> > On Tue, Aug 12, 2014 at 12:46 AM, Stephen Shaw <srshaw@dal.ca> wrote:
> > Hi Nancy,
> > Unfortunately, there are few Canadian resources for identifying flies,
> but thankfully an exception is for family Tabanidae (which this looks lik=
e,
> but it it not a deer fly, Chrysops sp; looks like a male).  Google to
> Canadian Journal of Arthropod Identification which is out of the U of
> Alberta, and pick Tabanidae.  I think I actually went to
> > www.biology.ualberta/bsc/ejournal/tm-08/chrysops23.htm
> > which got me to the right family.  You then hit 'Gallery' at the top
> which brings up a picture gallery of ~30 shots of the all species (there
> are ~25 species of Chrysops east of the Rockies, so most pics there are o=
ne
> or other Chrysops).  Near the end is Stonemyia rasa, which it possibly
> could be.  There are 2 Stonemyia species and there's some text about
> misidentification of the rasa species with the other Stonemyia.
> > I'm not good at identification and am not saying that's what it is, but
> this would be a good start for you, as you have all the likely species
> there, once you know it actually is a tabanid (recognizable as a group).
> >
> > As I think I said before but it is worth repeating, anyone can use
> BugGuide.net for free, but if you actually join up (also free) and give
> yourself a password, you can post images in a section for identification.
> Maybe no-one will get to it immediately, but sooner or later they should.
>  It sounds like you must have done this, so this comment may be irrelevan=
t.
>   An odd limitation with BugGuide is that if you are in a much photo'd
> group like Syrphidae (hoverflies) where there are loads of images on file=
,
> and think you have the likely genus and type that in, it will bring up a
> raft of images for that genus but which may not include your species, so
> you think it's not there.  If you are somehow able to guess the actual
> species and type that in, up may come pics of your species -- it was in t=
he
> file bank all the time, but only a limited selection was presented for
> first view under the genus.
> > Steve (Hfx)
> > ________________________________________
> > From: naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca [naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca] on
> behalf of nancy dowd [nancypdowd@gmail.com]
> > Sent: Monday, August 11, 2014 5:46 PM
> > To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca
> > Subject: [NatureNS] tabanid fly
> >
> > This fly was moved to Tabanidae (Deer and Horse Flies) on BugGuide wher=
e
> it has sat for a few days. It looks different than the familiar
> pattern-winged Deer Flies I usually see and is too small for a Horse Fly.
> It was at the lights before dawn (details below image):
> > https://www.flickr.com/photos/92981528@N08/14702512497/
> >
> > Anyone here recognize it further than the family level? Possibly a
> Stonemyia?
> >
> > Thanks for any help, Nancy
> >
> >
> >
>
>

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<div dir=3D"ltr">Thanks for the offer to collect the flies. There are two w=
ays to easily store them, 1. in a vial with rubbing alcohol (70% isopropano=
l) or 2. in a vial in a freezer (you can put them in a baggie instead, but =
then the baggie should go into a box so the specimens don&#39;t get crushed=
.<div>

<br></div><div>Each vial or bag should have its own label with the date and=
 locale of capture, and the name of the person who captured the insects. Mo=
re information is appreciated (like &quot;was sucking blood from my arm...&=
quot;), but the date/locale/collector is considered to be the baseline data=
 we prefer to have with each specimen.</div>

<div><br></div><div>Of course, if you happen to have proper entomology pins=
 and know how to curate the insects, then that&#39;s even better, but it&#3=
9;s absolutely no big deal if you don&#39;t!</div><div><br></div><div>
I had someone bring in a Sawfly (<a href=3D"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C=
imbicidae">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cimbicidae</a>) today in alcohol..=
.they wanted it identified, but strangely (?) wanted to keep it! Darn!</div=
>

<div><br></div><div>Randy</div></div><div class=3D"gmail_extra"><br clear=
=3D"all"><div>_________________________________<br>RF Lauff<br>Way in the b=
oonies of<br>Antigonish County, NS.</div>
<br><br><div class=3D"gmail_quote">On 12 August 2014 16:36, nancy dowd <spa=
n dir=3D"ltr">&lt;<a href=3D"mailto:nancypdowd@gmail.com" target=3D"_blank"=
>nancypdowd@gmail.com</a>&gt;</span> wrote:<br><blockquote class=3D"gmail_q=
uote" style=3D"margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1e=
x">

Thanks for all of your help. I am still wading through it and will add your=
 suggestions to the comment area of the image on BugGuide for their experts=
 to consider as well.<br>
<br>
Sorry I did not collect this fly- but will if it turns up again in the near=
 future. Plus other male Tabanids if I come across them.<br>
<span class=3D"HOEnZb"><font color=3D"#888888"><br>
Nancy<br>
</font></span><div class=3D"HOEnZb"><div class=3D"h5">On 2014-08-12, at 9:4=
0 AM, Randy Lauff &lt;<a href=3D"mailto:randy.lauff@gmail.com">randy.lauff@=
gmail.com</a>&gt; wrote:<br>
<br>
&gt; I&#39;d tend to lean towards Atylotus myself. I worked a couple years =
with Horse and Deer Flies, one summer collecting them every day from a trap=
 which was largely selective for them (i.e. little by-catch). I caught thou=
sands that summer, all but one were female**. Like all of our blood feeders=
, only the females bite, so traps which mimic prey, either by sight or smel=
l, attract the females. The males often look different enough from females =
to make one think they&#39;re altogether a different species (especially gi=
ven how often closely related insects can be difficult to separate). They&#=
39;re so different in fact, that Teskey&#39;s book (<a href=3D"https://s3-e=
u-west-1.amazonaws.com/yumpu/yumpu.com/000/022/513/783/1388496805_4971/smal=
l/THE_INSECTS_AND_ARACHNIDS000001.jpg" target=3D"_blank">https://s3-eu-west=
-1.amazonaws.com/yumpu/yumpu.com/000/022/513/783/1388496805_4971/small/THE_=
INSECTS_AND_ARACHNIDS000001.jpg</a>) uses separate keys for the sexes.<br>


&gt;<br>
&gt; Nancy...on the very remote chance you actually collected that fly...I&=
#39;d love to have it if you don&#39;t want it. Males are quite valuable (f=
rom a scientific standpoint) in collections.<br>
&gt;<br>
&gt; Randy<br>
&gt;<br>
&gt; **The paper summarizing all the findings is in prep right now, though =
we did publish a more theoretical paper already:<br>
&gt; Positive interspecific relationship between temporal occurrence and ab=
undance in insects. It&#39;s a heavy read, but if you&#39;re interested, ca=
n be found here: <a href=3D"http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.=
1371%2Fjournal.pone.0018982#pone-0018982-g001" target=3D"_blank">http://www=
.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0018982#pone-00189=
82-g001</a><br>


&gt;<br>
&gt; _________________________________<br>
&gt; RF Lauff<br>
&gt; Way in the boonies of<br>
&gt; Antigonish County, NS.<br>
&gt;<br>
&gt;<br>
&gt; On 12 August 2014 08:51, David McCorquodale &lt;<a href=3D"mailto:dbmc=
c09@gmail.com">dbmcc09@gmail.com</a>&gt; wrote:<br>
&gt; Nancy and Steve:<br>
&gt;<br>
&gt; There are two Canadian Journal of Arthropod Identification articles on=
 tabanids (horse and deer flies =E2=80=93 the ones with patterned wings). =
=C2=A0Both were written by Tony Thomas of New Brunswick. =C2=A0They provide=
 a great introduction and build on the work of Teskey, formerly of the Cana=
dian National Insect Collection. =C2=A0Here is the link to the one that dea=
ls with the horse flies. =C2=A0<a href=3D"http://www.biology.ualberta.ca/bs=
c/ejournal/t_13/t_13.html" target=3D"_blank">http://www.biology.ualberta.ca=
/bsc/ejournal/t_13/t_13.html</a><br>


&gt;<br>
&gt;<br>
&gt; I am not sure which horse fly this is. =C2=A0A brief scan through BugG=
uide and Steve Marshall=E2=80=99s =E2=80=98Flies=E2=80=99 suggests that Aty=
lotus bicolor would be a possibility. =C2=A0Here is a link to one on BugGui=
de: <a href=3D"http://bugguide.net/node/view/673858/bgpage" target=3D"_blan=
k">http://bugguide.net/node/view/673858/bgpage</a>.<br>


&gt;<br>
&gt;<br>
&gt; This is a male because of the eyes meeting in the centre of the face. =
=C2=A0Unfortunately most of the identification materials focus on the femal=
es.<br>
&gt;<br>
&gt; DBMcC<br>
&gt; Georges River, NS<br>
&gt;<br>
&gt;<br>
&gt; David McCorquodale<br>
&gt; Georges River, NS<br>
&gt;<br>
&gt;<br>
&gt; On Tue, Aug 12, 2014 at 12:46 AM, Stephen Shaw &lt;<a href=3D"mailto:s=
rshaw@dal.ca">srshaw@dal.ca</a>&gt; wrote:<br>
&gt; Hi Nancy,<br>
&gt; Unfortunately, there are few Canadian resources for identifying flies,=
 but thankfully an exception is for family Tabanidae (which this looks like=
, but it it not a deer fly, Chrysops sp; looks like a male). =C2=A0Google t=
o Canadian Journal of Arthropod Identification which is out of the U of Alb=
erta, and pick Tabanidae. =C2=A0I think I actually went to<br>


&gt; www.biology.ualberta/bsc/ejournal/tm-08/chrysops23.htm<br>
&gt; which got me to the right family. =C2=A0You then hit &#39;Gallery&#39;=
 at the top which brings up a picture gallery of ~30 shots of the all speci=
es (there are ~25 species of Chrysops east of the Rockies, so most pics the=
re are one or other Chrysops). =C2=A0Near the end is Stonemyia rasa, which =
it possibly could be. =C2=A0There are 2 Stonemyia species and there&#39;s s=
ome text about misidentification of the rasa species with the other Stonemy=
ia.<br>


&gt; I&#39;m not good at identification and am not saying that&#39;s what i=
t is, but this would be a good start for you, as you have all the likely sp=
ecies there, once you know it actually is a tabanid (recognizable as a grou=
p).<br>


&gt;<br>
&gt; As I think I said before but it is worth repeating, anyone can use Bug=
Guide.net for free, but if you actually join up (also free) and give yourse=
lf a password, you can post images in a section for identification. =C2=A0 =
Maybe no-one will get to it immediately, but sooner or later they should. =
=C2=A0 =C2=A0It sounds like you must have done this, so this comment may be=
 irrelevant. =C2=A0 An odd limitation with BugGuide is that if you are in a=
 much photo&#39;d group like Syrphidae (hoverflies) where there are loads o=
f images on file, and think you have the likely genus and type that in, it =
will bring up a raft of images for that genus but which may not include you=
r species, so you think it&#39;s not there. =C2=A0If you are somehow able t=
o guess the actual species and type that in, up may come pics of your speci=
es -- it was in the file bank all the time, but only a limited selection wa=
s presented for first view under the genus.<br>


&gt; Steve (Hfx)<br>
&gt; ________________________________________<br>
&gt; From: <a href=3D"mailto:naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca">naturens-owner@=
chebucto.ns.ca</a> [<a href=3D"mailto:naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca">nature=
ns-owner@chebucto.ns.ca</a>] on behalf of nancy dowd [<a href=3D"mailto:nan=
cypdowd@gmail.com">nancypdowd@gmail.com</a>]<br>


&gt; Sent: Monday, August 11, 2014 5:46 PM<br>
&gt; To: <a href=3D"mailto:naturens@chebucto.ns.ca">naturens@chebucto.ns.ca=
</a><br>
&gt; Subject: [NatureNS] tabanid fly<br>
&gt;<br>
&gt; This fly was moved to Tabanidae (Deer and Horse Flies) on BugGuide whe=
re it has sat for a few days. It looks different than the familiar pattern-=
winged Deer Flies I usually see and is too small for a Horse Fly. It was at=
 the lights before dawn (details below image):<br>


&gt; <a href=3D"https://www.flickr.com/photos/92981528@N08/14702512497/" ta=
rget=3D"_blank">https://www.flickr.com/photos/92981528@N08/14702512497/</a>=
<br>
&gt;<br>
&gt; Anyone here recognize it further than the family level? Possibly a Sto=
nemyia?<br>
&gt;<br>
&gt; Thanks for any help, Nancy<br>
&gt;<br>
&gt;<br>
&gt;<br>
<br>
</div></div></blockquote></div><br></div>

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