[Syrphidae] RE: Syrphidae Digest, Vol 17, Issue 2

[Josh Rubenstein]

Hello Everybody,

   Thanks to everyone who passed on, the useful information.  Dr. Thompson 
thank you for the follow up.  My interest is in learning to, ID Syrphidae 
and their general phenology here in Boston, USA, obtain flower records for 
species in the area and relevant biology for pollination ecology as well as 
diversity and distribution information on a global scale in order to frame 
the local taxa better.  This is a hobby and I admit my hands are full 
learning other groups right now but Diptera are apparently the second most 
frequent floral visitor (pollinator?) in my neighborhood.
   I looked at the key being developed by Jeff Skevington, that along with 
the recommended websites , and the Manual of Nearctic Diptera; which I've 
thumbed through but will soon photo copy; should move me along quickly.  
Thank you again everyone for your interest, research, help and continued 
feedback, it is going to make my efforts much more effective!

Josh

>Date: Tue, 02 May 2006 07:24:07 -0400
>From: "christian thompson" <cthompson at sel.barc.usda.gov>
>Subject: Re: [Syrphidae] RE: Syrphidae Digest, Vol 16, Issue 1
>To: <syrphidae at lists.nottingham.ac.uk>, <bwakkie at syrphidae.com>

>
>Sorry, Josh, but very BAD Advice.
>
>Shorter and Drew is obsolete.
>
>The basic reference for all North American (USA, Canada) Diptera is Manual 
>of Nearctic Diptera in 3 volumes. The Syrphidae are in volume 2 (1987) and 
>there are lots of illustrations. This will get you the generic level.
>
>We can work with you on species keys. Jeff Skevington is developing an 
>online key at
>http://www.canacoll.org/Diptera/Staff/Skevington/Syrphidae/Syrphidae.htm
>with many excellent color images from Steve Marshall.
>
>My Nearctic flower flies should be out this summer.
>
>Tell us more about your project. Boston is an interesting location, but one 
>needs to get out of the city to find flies!
>
>Cheers
>
>
>F. Christian Thompson
>Systematic Entomology Lab., USDA
>c/o Smithsonian Institution
>MRC-0169 NHB
>PO Box 37012
>Washington, DC 20013-7012
>(202) 382-1800 voice
>(202) 786-9422 FAX
>cthompso at sel.barc.usda.gov e-mail
>www.diptera.org  web site
>
> >>> Bastiaan Wakkie <bwakkie at syrphidae.com> 04/30/06 11:37AM >>>
>Hello Josh,
>
>There is a good online key for flowerflies at the following address:
>http://digital.library.okstate.edu/oas/oas_htm_files/v56/p75_94nf.html
>
>Hope this give you enough directions otherwise let us know.
>
>regards,
>Bastiaan Wakkie
>Bastiaan Wakkie
>http://www.syrphidae.com
>
>
>On Sat, 2006-04-29 at 16:51 -0400, Josh Rubenstein wrote:
>
> > Hello,
> >
> > I was hoping that someone would be able to direct me to a source on the
> > literature for syrphids, maybe even a Bibliographic database or a 
>relevant
> > book.  I am interested in learning how to ID them here in Boston, USA.  
>Any
> > help would be appreciated.
> >
> > Cheers,
> >
> > Josh