| Popis: |
We present a key for the identification of males and females of 62 species of flesh flies (Diptera: Sarcophagidae) occurring in the British Isles, following the addition of several species to the British and Irish checklists in the last few years. Footnotes with characters for identification are given for an additional two (2) recently discovered species still awaiting publication, whereas a third species, Sarcophaga (Liosarcophaga) tibialis Macquart, 1851, known only from a single record from the 1970s, is not included. The key is based on the study of approximately 10,000 specimens held in the research collections of the Natural History Museum, London and is supplemented by colour photographs of diagnostic characters. The key allows for the identification of all males and 88% of females, the latter without the need for any special preparation or dissection of specimens. Emphasis is placed on characters of the external morphology not requiring a full dissection of the specimens, with the objective of maximising identification accuracy and reaching a wider user base for application in ecological studies, biological recording and forensic investigations. |
