Dichetophora Rondani, 1868

Vala, Jean-Claude & Williams, Christopher D., 2015, Sciomyzidae Fallén, 1820 (Diptera) collected in the Mercantour National Park, France, Zoosystema 37 (4), pp. 611-619 : 615-616

Genus Dichetophora Rondani, 1868

Dichetophora finlandica

Verbeke, 1964

Dichetophora finlandica Verbeke, 1964: 17 .

MATERIAL EXAMINED. — 1 ♀, M10- CAI 1400-T3-M1.

DISTRIBUTION. — European: mainly Boreo-Alpine and Central European. Fennoscandia, Karelian, Netherland, England, Belgium, France, Italy, Austria, Bulgaria.

COMMENTS

This species is mentioned for the first time in the Mercantour National Park, and added to those previously reported in the French Alps by Vala (1989) in the department of Les Hautes-Alpes (2 ♂, Saint-Véran, 12.VIII.1966, 1 ♂, Embrun, 21.XI.1983). Elsewhere in France, Speight et al. (2005) found it in the department of Haute-Savoie (1 ♂ captured in Bernex, IX.1977).

The species has been often confused with the second Palaearctic species mentioned below. However, it differs by the presence of only one pair of post-alar setae, the third antennal segment elongated and very acute, and the yellow femur III.

It is found in exposed herbaceous vegetation along edge of wood, forest; deciduous forest and in Salix swamp forest or within humid grass of ponds. The flight period extends from July to September. Its general biology and immature stages are unknown.

Dichetophora obliterata

( Fabricius, 1805)

Scatophaga obliterata Fabricius, 1805: 205 .

MERCANTOUR DATA. — One specimen has been collected in this Park at Mont Chajol, southern side (2005 m- 2015 m) on 3.IX.2009, and previously identified by Rozkošný (ATBI + M data 2010).

DISTRIBUTION. — Palaearctic, Middle-East and Asia. Europe: Ireland, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Greece, Morocco, Israel, Turkey, Iran and Iraq.

COMMENTS

The species is much larger than the previous one. The third antennal segment is relatively short and the apex rather rounded. Two postalar setae are present. It is present in various habitats: along canals, near temporary or permanent freshwater ponds, edges of various oak forests and in garrigues. In contrast to the previous species, all immature stages have been described by Vala et al. (1987), as well as aspects of its biology. The adults emerge during May, oviposition is delayed, and the eggs have a long diapause period (at least two months). This species is univoltine. In laboratory rearing, first-instar larvae are parasitoids in Lauria cylindracea (E. M. da Costa, 1774); older instar-larvae eat Helicella Férussac, 1821 spp. and Theba Risso, 1826 ssp. The older larva is the overwintering stage, and pupariation takes place on the inside or outside of the snail shell.