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Curtis British Entomology Plate 768
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Curtis British Entomology Plate 768
Diptera: Hydrotaea ciliata = Hydrotaea diabolus [Plant: Anagallis minima (Chaffweed)] Date: 1824-39
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Media ID 23040860
© The Robin Symington Collection/Mary Evans Picture Library
1820s 1830s Anagallis Butterflies Butterfly Ciliata Curtis Diptera Entomology Ledipotera Minima
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This image is taken from Curtis's British Entomology, Plate 768, featuring the Dipteran flies Hydrotaea ciliata and Hydrotaea diabolus, with the diminutive Anagallis minima, or chaffweed, as their host plant. Dated between 1824 and 1839, this exquisite plate was produced during the 19th century by the renowned British naturalist and botanist, John Curtis FLS. The two species of Hydrotaea flies, Hydrotaea ciliata and Hydrotaea diabolus, are members of the family Siphonapteridae, commonly known as louse flies. These flies are characterized by their long, slender legs and their distinctive elongated proboscises, which they use to feed on nectar and other sweet plant secretions. The presence of Anagallis minima, a small, low-growing herb, is essential to the life cycle of these flies. The plant's vibrant, tubular flowers attract the flies, providing them with a source of nectar. In turn, the flies play a crucial role in the pollination of the chaffweed, ensuring its continued growth and propagation. This plate is a testament to the intricate relationships between different species in the natural world, and to the meticulous work of naturalists like John Curtis, who dedicated their lives to documenting and understanding these connections. The delicate details of the flies and the plant are rendered with exceptional precision, providing a window into the rich biodiversity of the 19th century British Isles.
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