[Syrphidae] Platycheirus

[Chris Thompson]

Sorry, Francis, but ...

Please define more precisely what "Platycheirus" means?

As you know you have Platycheirus of Vockeroth 1990 a broad concept that 
includes Carposcalis, Eocheilosia,  Pachyshyria, Pseudoplatycheirus, 
Pyrophaena, Stenocheilosia, etc. and that of Enderlein 1938 and et alia 
which is much narrower, etc.

Naturally I am delighted to collect DNA appropriate material for you and 
your student. Our season is VERY slow or non productive, so I have yet to 
see Carposcalis obscuris Say yet, but I will and along with Platycheirus 
quadratus Say get a few alcoholic sample this year.

And help coordinate with other projects on groups of the Platycheirus CLADE.

Sincerely,

Chris


--------------------------------------------------
From: "Francis Gilbert" <Francis.Gilbert at nottingham.ac.uk>
Sent: Thursday, May 27, 2010 8:19 AM
To: "Hoverfly discussion list" <syrphidae at lists.nottingham.ac.uk>
Subject: [Syrphidae] Platycheirus

> hi everyone
>
> I am starting a project on the phylogeny of Platycheirus, my favourite
> syrphid genus, and (in my opinion) the most interesting ecologically,
> certainly of all the syrphines.
>
> I wonder if you or any of your colleagues not on this list would
> consider helping by collecting just a few (1-5) specimens of each sex of
> any Platycheirus you come across in your collecting. You can send them
> to me in tubes dry, or (preferably) in ethanol (at least 70%, best is
> 95%, diluted only by water: NOT methanol or methyl derivatives). All I
> would need would be the locality information with them. I will of course
> send you some tubes if you don't have them, and refund any postage or
> the costs of small amounts of alcohol (receipts would be greatly
> appreciated).
>
> We will then use them for DNA sequencing, to work out a molecular
> phylogeny of the genus. An Indian Masters student, Uttaran Maiti, will
> start this for his degree, in collaboration with a molecular ecologist,
> Sara Goodacre, in my department. Once this is done, we can get to grips
> with the evolution of their amazing adult morphological changes.
>
> Anyone contributing will of course be fully acknowledged in any
> resulting publications.
>
> Thanks very much !
>
> Best wishes
>
> Francis
>
> Send material to:
>
> ______________________________________
> Dr Francis Gilbert
> School of Biology,
> University Park,
> University of Nottingham,
> Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK
> _______________________________________
>
> Dr Francis Gilbert
> www.nottingham.ac.uk/~plzfg
> (+44)(0)115 951 3215
> BioMAP: www.biomapegypt.org
>
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