FlyEvidence provides a range of insect identification expertise within limits of experience and knowledge and make every attempt to provide accurate identification where-ever possible.
In most instances, identification will only be undertaken to the taxonomic level where accuracy can be assured (this pre-supposes some knowledge of taxonomy - please see the section Classification). Uncertain identifications are provided with the caveat that more detail may be needed to provide greater accuracy.
Identification is most easily carried out if the specimens are before me - please see the section Postal Advice to find out how to package specimens so that they travel safely through the postal services.
It is not always possible (or necessary) to send the actual specimen(s) and identification from photographs can be achieved, but often with a much lower conviction of accuracy.
FlyEvidence offers a professional z-stacked photographic service using an Ash Technologies Ltd, Omni Core full HD 1080p digital microscope.
Z-stacking technology enables photography of small objects which high magnification. At high magnification there is an increasingly narrow depth of field. Z-stacking enables the addition of multiple focal planes, thereby providing image in focus throughout the full depth of field. Without z-stacking only one focal plane can be in focus, providing an image that has many aspects out-of-focus.
Insects smaller than 5mm in length pose more complex aberrations and are at present below the capability of the equipment currently used, requiring a different type of objective lens.
Students often find themselves needing more statistical assistance than their supervisor can provide for within the restraints of dissertation provision at university.
FlyEvidence offers a Statistical Assistance service to aid students with this important aspect of their dissertations at undergraduate, and postgraduate levels.
All statistical assistance must have approval from the project supervisor before analysis can proceed. Work cannot be undertaken without such approval because it may contradict/breach dissertation regulations within your University.
Please discuss this option with your dissertation supervisor in the first instance. Then complete and return the Dissertation Consent Form, which needs to be signed by the dissertation supervisor, before the contract is discussed with FlyEvidence, and prior to commencement of the work.
Thousands of insect specimens are safely send between institutions and scientists per year for the purposes of insect identification.
Pinned specimens require to be fully inserted into the base of an insect pinning box. If any are freely swinging on the pin, then cross-pin them with two additional pins to hold either the double mount or the specimen carefully in place.
Wet material can be sent in suitable scientific tubes. Plastic tubes are best as they are unlikely to break during transit and they weigh less. Sterelin, eppendorf or centrifuge tubes work well as they are leak-proof.
Always send wet material separate from pinned material. In either instance, wrap the pinning box or the tubes in bubble wrap, then insert this into a larger box, carefully seal with parcel tape and provide the FlyEvidence postal address and your own postal address (for return of the specimens).
Small numbers of tubes containing wet material can be posted in Jiffy-bags.
We recommend first class postage or signed for special delivery.
Please label all specimens carefully. If you have a cross-reference spreadsheet, email a working copy to awhittington@flyevidence.co.uk so that the identifications can be inserted directly into the data.
Lists of prior insect identification and ecology contracts, publications and conferences attended are provided on separate pages. FlyEvidence encourages you to browser these pages to enable you to assess if your project falls within the range of expertise provided.
FlyEvidence can and is willing to provide expertise outside the areas of experience presented in those pages, with the caveat that a learning curve will prolong the contract initially.
We have a range of pricing structures. Please note that these are not fixed in stone and that FlyEvidence is willing to negotiate the price to suit your circumstances. Please contact FlyEvidence prior to posting materials.
Identification of one-off specimens is usually provided pro-bono, but then only to a level of confidence that the initial interpretation allows. Any deeper analysis will be subject to further contract and hence require funding.
In some instances where funding is not available and the specimens are of sufficient scientific interest, FlyEvidence is willing to forego the price structure for insect identification in favour of co-authorship of peer reviewed outputs, or authorship of new species.
Like what you see here.
Do you have your own story to tell? Wanting to start-up a small business at home?
Keen to have your own website, but don't know how.
Charged at £35 per hour, so long as you supply content and images FlyEvidence can build a website for you using the GoDaddy Website Builder.
You can either sign-up for your own web-name with GoDaddy, or FlyEvidence can do this for you as part of the package.
If doing this yourself, don't forget to add the MS Office option, you need this for emails.
Below are an assortment of informative files concerning forensic entomology and insect identification.
Recent technological interest in insects is driven by their immense success as organisms. Originating over 400 million years ago, they have, and still do dominate the Earth. FlyEvidence is interested in understanding & explaining how and why this is.
The diverse adaptability found in insects ensures their interaction with humans, but it
Recent technological interest in insects is driven by their immense success as organisms. Originating over 400 million years ago, they have, and still do dominate the Earth. FlyEvidence is interested in understanding & explaining how and why this is.
The diverse adaptability found in insects ensures their interaction with humans, but it is only a minute fraction of the overall number of species that are pests. The overwhelming majority of insects are innocuous to humans, and for most, we know virtually nothing of their role, their interactions and their value.
With a background in museum curation, forensic entomology, faunistic and pollination biology, FlyEvidence provides an insect identification service over a broad range of insect groups.
At FlyEvidence Consultant Entomologist Andrew Whittington provides an experience based Insect Identification Service.
Main Groups:
UK and N. Europe
Diptera (flies);
Neuroptera (lacewings);
Plecoptera (Stoneflies);
Ephemeroptera (mayflies);
Odonata (dragonflies and damselflies);
Carabidae (ground beetles);
Auchenorrhyncha (planthoppers);
Araneae
At FlyEvidence Consultant Entomologist Andrew Whittington provides an experience based Insect Identification Service.
Main Groups:
UK and N. Europe
Diptera (flies);
Neuroptera (lacewings);
Plecoptera (Stoneflies);
Ephemeroptera (mayflies);
Odonata (dragonflies and damselflies);
Carabidae (ground beetles);
Auchenorrhyncha (planthoppers);
Araneae (spiders).
Afrotropical
Lonchoptera, Syrphidae & Platystomatidae (Diptera).
Other interest
Urban and stored products species and species of Forensic interest
Other groups on request.
If you would like to commission FlyEvidence to conduct legal investigation, insect identification, photographic or statistics work for you, then the easiest method is to fill in the Contact FlyEvidence form at the foot of this page to outline your needs, or email your request directly to: awhittington@flyevidence.co.uk
We will then discuss
If you would like to commission FlyEvidence to conduct legal investigation, insect identification, photographic or statistics work for you, then the easiest method is to fill in the Contact FlyEvidence form at the foot of this page to outline your needs, or email your request directly to: awhittington@flyevidence.co.uk
We will then discuss the extent of the service with you and devise a suitable time-frame in which to conduct the work.
Examples of previous contracts include:
Micro-dipterous
pollination in Ceropegia (Apocynaceae: Asclepiadoideae)
Ecosystem restoration strengthens pollination network in Seychelles
Diptera of the Central Peaks and Peak Dale, St Helena
The primary focus of Forensic Entomology for FlyEvidence is provision of an estimated post mortem interval. This is specifically the minimum period after death as determined by detailed examination of insect life cycles.
Additionally, Forensic Entomology can be used to determine whether a body has been moved; season of burial (or wrapping); vehicle movements; narcotic export; narcotic abuse.
The spear-winged flies, or Lonchopteridae, are a small family (69 species) of flies no more than 5mm in length. The species currently reside in a single genus Lonchoptera.
Lonchoptera larvae develop in decaying leaf matter and other vegetative matter, including fungi. The adults are found in moist conditions and feed on nectar.
Adults an
The spear-winged flies, or Lonchopteridae, are a small family (69 species) of flies no more than 5mm in length. The species currently reside in a single genus Lonchoptera.
Lonchoptera larvae develop in decaying leaf matter and other vegetative matter, including fungi. The adults are found in moist conditions and feed on nectar.
Adults and larvae are highly distinctive. Adults have pointed wings with sexually dimorphic venation and strongly developed setae on the head and legs. The arrangement of setae on the legs is diagnostic.
Larvae are flattened, the plate-like dorsal integument is adorned with lateral flanges and filaments.
Syrphidae are also known as flower-flies or hoverflies, because of their role as pollinators and their hovering behaviour.
Their role in pollination is second only to bees and is supplemented in the larval stage of many species by being predators of crop pests such as aphids. This makes them very good biocontrol agents.
Adults are distingui
Syrphidae are also known as flower-flies or hoverflies, because of their role as pollinators and their hovering behaviour.
Their role in pollination is second only to bees and is supplemented in the larval stage of many species by being predators of crop pests such as aphids. This makes them very good biocontrol agents.
Adults are distinguished from other flies by having a vena spuria an additional longitudinal vein in the wing parallel to the median vein. Mimicry of bees or wasps is frequent in the Syrphidae.
My specific interest is for the taxonomy of Afrotropical species, specifically, but not restricted to the genus Graptomyza.
Platystomatidae (or signal flies) are a highly variable family of small to large flies, mainly distributed in the tropics.
The absence of fronto-orbital setae, the lack of any extension of the posterior apical angle of the ante- rior cubital cell (cua) and the presence of setae along the entire length of wing vein R1, frequently vein R4+5
Platystomatidae (or signal flies) are a highly variable family of small to large flies, mainly distributed in the tropics.
The absence of fronto-orbital setae, the lack of any extension of the posterior apical angle of the ante- rior cubital cell (cua) and the presence of setae along the entire length of wing vein R1, frequently vein R4+5 and sometimes Cu, distinguishes Platystomatidae from most Tephritidae, Pyrgotidae and Ulidiidae, with which they share close affinities.
The focus of my research interest is currently the Afrotropical and Neotropical faunas, The bulk of genera in these regions require taxonomic revision, although 17 genera monotypic or bitypic and require little work.