Online identification keys
Provided here are web-based identification keys to Apioceridae and Mydidae taxa, which have either been adapted from previously published keys and converted for web-based dissemination or the keys are more recent and developed specifically for web-based dissemination.
The software Lucid Phoenix is used to import paper-based keys or to create web-based dichotomous keys. Some of the previously published keys are illustrated with original drawings from the publication, added images, or links to respective web-sites with images.
Multi-access, matrix-based identification keys are developed with Lucid Builder (version 3.5).
In order to use the keys, a reasonably fast internet connection is needed, Java has to be enabled in your browser, and a Java runtime version of 1.4.2 or greater is required (test your Java version; download the latest, freely available Java version).
Note: The keys might not work on a Mac running Leopard (Mac OSX 10.5.8) and Java 5 Update 24 (1.5.0_24), but will run in Snow Leopard (10.6) and Java 6 (1.6).
Keys
Mydidae: Palaearctic genera – illustrated, dichotomous key to Palaearctic Mydidae genera as published by Richter 1997
– Sara Parilo has attached images to all characters and a representative of each genus.
Mydidae: Ectyphinae – multi-access, matrix-based key to the world species resulting from Lyons & Dikow 2010 revision
Mydidae: Ectyphinae – illustrated, dichotomous key to the world species as published by Lyons & Dikow 2010
– You can download the original publication with the descriptions and key as a PDF from the ZooKeys web-site.
Mydidae subfamilies after Papavero & Wilcox 1974 with the addition of Megascelinae and Rhaphiomidinae by T. Dikow
– the key was originally written by Papavero & Wilcox in 1974
– Torsten Dikow has added the Megascelinae and Rhaphiomidinae to the key and adjusted the terminology
– Torsten Dikow has attached images to several characters and a representative of each subfamily taxon
Mydidae: Mydinae: Mydini as published by Wilcox, Papavero, & Pimentel 1989
– Mydas ventralis couplets shortened
– The key to the females of the Mydas interruptus group is not included. Mydas floridensis can only be keyed out using the originally published key.
– keys to Baliomydas & Ceriomydas from Papavero & Wilcox 1971.
– Baliomydas tricolor not included as no specimens had been studied.
– Ceriomydas vespoides is not in the original key by Wilcox & Papavero 1971, but Ceriomydas darlingtoni is found twice so that I resolved the key based on the included descriptions.
Mydidae: Leptomydinae: Pseudonomoneura as published by Fitzgerald & Kondratieff 1995, 1997
– Sara Parilo has updated this key (July 2011) and attached images to all characters and to the majority of the flies.
– This key relies heavily on male terminalia and it is best to have a male specimen for identification.
– You can download the original publications with the descriptions and keys as a PDF from the BHL: Fitzgerald & Kondratieff 1995 and Fitzgerald & Kondratieff 1997.
Apioceridae: Apiocera Nearctic as published by Cazier 1982, 1985
– This key is only for males and relies heavily on male terminalia. Therefore, dissected specimens are best.
– The terminology for the male terminalia follows Yeates & Irwin 1996.
– The illustrations are taken from Cazier 1982 & 1985.
– You can download the original publications with the descriptions and keys as a PDF from the AMNH library: Cazier 1982 and Cazier 1985.
– The distribution (by country and state) has been added for each species.
– You can use the Filter tool (blue funnel symbol in key) to restrict the key to those species occurring in certain states, i.e., Baja California Norte, Baja California Sur, Arizona, California.
Mydidae: Megascelinae: Megascelus as published by Artigas 1973
– This key is an English translation of the original key published in Spanish.
– You can download the original publication with the descriptions and key as a PDF from the BHL: Artigas 1973.
