BR. J. ENT. NAT. HIST., 7: 1994 IS 



SOME RARE ACALYPTRATE DIPTERA 

 TAKEN IN RECENT YEARS 



Andrew Godfrey 



Ecosurveys Ltd, Priory Lodge, Hagnaby, Spilsby, Lincolnshire PE23 4BP. 



During 1991, 1992 and 1993 I have been fortunate to find several rare and 

 little known acalyptrate Diptera. These include the second British specimen of 

 Pseudopomyza atrimana (Pseudopomyzidae), a third locality and the first British 

 inland records for Parochthiphila coronata (Chamaemyiidae), and recent records of 

 Stenomicra delicata (Stenomicridae). In addition, a number of interesting species, 

 collected during the same period, have been identified in material sent to me for 

 identification. Peter Chandler has also kindly added his records of Stenomicra delicata. 

 Details of these are given below. 



Typhamyza bifasciata Wood (Anthomyzidae) 



A single female was taken by beating Carex paniculata L. tussocks at the centre 

 of a dried-out pond vegetated by Typha at Thompson Common, Norfolk (Grid 

 Reference TL 99) on 1 1 .viii. 1991 . More recently, I took a single specimen by sweeping 

 a Typha-nch ditch on Neatscourt Marshes, Isle of Sheppey, Kent (TQ918714) on 

 25. vi. 1993. I have also identified another female from Norbrigg Pool, Derbyshire 

 SK4475 taken on 5.vii.l992 by Derek Whiteley (specimen in the collection at Weston 

 Park Museum, Sheffield). An increasing number of recent records (for example: 

 Ismay, 1981; McLean, 1987; Withers, 1987) suggests it is more widespread and not 

 as rare as was previously thought. Rohacek (1992) has recently provided an excellent 

 account of the taxonomy, morphology and ecology of this species. 



Stenomicra delicata (Collin) (Stenomicridae) 



This obscure and very rare fly was described as new to science by J. E. Collin (1944) 

 from a small number of specimens taken from a dried-up artificial pond in a garden 

 in Newmarket in June and July 1942 and 1943. As far as I am aware, the only published 

 records since are from Czechoslovakia (Papp, 1978; Rohacek, 1983). Papp recorded 

 a single specimen whilst Rohacek took two females at light. It is currently given Red 

 Data Book Status 2 in Britain (Talk, 1991). 



I took a single female of this species whilst examining the tussocks of Carex 

 paniculata at Holwell Mouth SSSI, Leics. (SK724245) on l.ix.1991. The tussock sedge 

 grows by the streamside in a small valley and is surrounded by an area of marshy 

 ground dominated by Carex riparia Curtis, Filipendula ulmaria (L.) Maxim, and 

 Equisetum telmateia Ehrh. with sallow carr nearby and throughout the valley. The 

 streams here are spring fed. Several other interesting flies were taken in the tussock< 

 including Stilpon graminum (Fall.), Drapetis assimilis (Fall.), Elaphropeza ephippiata 

 (Fall.), Elachiptera brevipennis (Meig.), Oscinisoma cognata (Meig.) and Trimerina 

 madizans (Fall.). 



Two males and six females of S. delicata were taken from Carex paniculata tussocks 

 at Barnby Marshes, Suffolk (TM482904) on 7.vii.l993. One male and one female 

 were taken a few days later amongst Carex pseudocyperus L. and Deschampsia 

 caespitosa (L.) P. Beauv. in a damp ditch at Swangey Fen. Norfolk CTM013933) on 

 the 10.vii.1993. Peter Chandler has informed me that he has taken this species from 

 Carex paniculata at two sites in Hampshire — The Moors. Bishop's Waltham on 

 13.vii.1990 (one male, two females); and Greywell Fen on 15.vii.1990 (one male). 



