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Lauxaniid Fly
Depressa striatipennis
-37.895, 145.299
Field Notes
Description:
A small black fly about 6 mm long.It's body was humped with a sloping tucked-in abdomen. Mouth parts were held parallel to the ground with close-set beady ovoid black eyes. Wings were clear with two white bands, one narrow and an anterior broader band.
Habitat:
Spotted in a suburban garden. This one had fallen into a water bowl for the dog.
Notes:
Thanks to Ken walker for the ID. He explains " There are 3 species in this genus: Depressa albicosta, Depressa atrata and Depressa striatipennis and all were described by Malloch in 1926 (D. albicosta) and 1927 (D. atrata and D. striatipennis). D. albicosta can be distinguished having an entirely black head whereas D. atrata and D. striatipennis have a fulvous (reddish) coloured head. D. atrata and D. striatipennis can be distinguished by the sculpture on the thorax. D. atrata is smooth whereas D. striatipennis is "shagreened". The term "shagreened" was used by Malloch in his description of D. striatipennis and it means a rough or granular surface. Your image of the fly with its head pointing left clearly shows the sculpture of the thorax with several longitudinal rows of raised bumps or depressions. Definitely "shagreened" hence the species is D. striatipennis."
Family: Lauxaniidae
Subfamily: Lauxaniinae
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