Authorvan Emden, F.I.,
Year1954
TitleDiptera: Cyclorrhapha Calyptrata (I) Sect (a) Tachinidae and Calliphoridae
SeriesHandbooks for the Identification of British Insects
TypeBook/Report
How CompleteCovers all UK species known at the time
SourceHandbooks for the Identification of British Insects , Vol X. Part 4(a), 133pp, The Royal Entomological Society of London
IllustrationsRather pokey line drawings with the text
Review (by Malcolm Storey)

Classic old-style RES handbook dichotomous keys to the British species.

The Tachinidae key is widely regarded as one of the most difficult in the RES Handbooks. Most of the problem lies in the initial key to subfamilies; after that it’s more straightforward. Belshaw’s more recent key is much easier to use, but the present work remains useful for the figures of genitalia.

Calliphoridae (apart from Rhinophorinae - now Rhinophoridae) has been superseded by the two Faun. Ent. Scan. volumes

Can be downloaded from the Royal Entomological Society website.

Examine Stereo Microscope
Specimen PreparationPinned specimens set to show prosternum
Identification difficulty

Tachinidae: very difficult and often unusable.

Calliphoridae (s.l.) moderately straightforward

Website urlwww.royensoc.co.uk/publications/index.htm

Notes & PurposeStatusTaxonEnglishClassification
For identification, P97CurrentOESTROIDEAblow-flies, blue-bottles, flesh flies and parasitoid fliesAnimalia: Diptera
For identificationSupersededCALLIPHORIDAEblowflies, bluebottles, green bottles and woodlouse-fliesAnimalia: Diptera
For identificationSupersededSARCOPHAGIDAEflesh fliesAnimalia: Diptera
For identification, The newer Belshaw key is much easier.SupersededTACHINIDAEparasitoid fliesAnimalia: Diptera
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