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 French (Sologne) Tolmerus/Machimus problem. This is not T. atricapillus
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| Quaedfliegh |
Posted on 05-09-2011 17:37
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 Member Location: Tilburg Netherlands Posts: 599 Joined: 18.05.10 |
Machimus/Tolmerus driving me crazy. Collected 7 specimen of these creatures. All were caught in Broom (Cytisus sp) on dry soil near Souesmes, Sologne, France. They are similar to T. atricapillus but they are larger, all are about 18-19 mm. Abdomen and thorax dusted golden brown, most hair is yellow, bristles on legs all black, 2-4 bristles on margin scutellum. Beard upper side black, lower side red! Hairs on elongation sternite 8 red! and some black. Postocular bristles red! and black. Legs with lots of red/brown. In appearance and behaviour distinctly different from T. atricapillus. As mentioned they are larger, golden brown and prefer to hang in Broom, more then 50 specimen were hanging there in an area of 50x50 meters, temperature about 30 C. On the bare ground Asilus crabroniformis ruled, over 15 specimen. Keys by Seguy and Engel bring no satisfying solution. Is this maybe a special form? Edit of tuesday september 6. Compared my male Loire specimina with 10 randomly picked male specimina of T. atricapillus from the local Museum. I checked them basically for i had little time. All 10 Dutch specimina had black postocular bristles, a black and white (sometimes yellowish) beard (mystax), and black hairs on elongation of 8th sternite. All but 1 were smaller in size. All Loire males had a black and red beard, more red than black postoculair bristles and red hairs on elongation with some sparse black. Quaedfliegh attached the following image:  [172.56Kb] Edited by Quaedfliegh on 19-10-2011 01:23 Greetings, Reinoud |
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| Quaedfliegh |
Posted on 06-09-2011 15:08
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Member Location: Tilburg Netherlands Posts: 599 Joined: 18.05.10 |
Maybe this helps......space between eyes is half of the size of one eye.
Quaedfliegh attached the following image:  [160.27Kb] Edited by Quaedfliegh on 08-09-2011 09:23 Greetings, Reinoud |
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| christoophe |
Posted on 07-09-2011 13:07
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 Member Location: France Provence Posts: 1292 Joined: 06.02.08 |
Hi Reinoud Size is not shocking to Tolmerus atricapillus. I find the picture all the criteria of this species, except the reddish color and facial swelling is low prominent, unless the picture is misleading. But I do not know what else it could be other that T. atricapillus. |
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| Quaedfliegh |
Posted on 07-09-2011 15:24
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Member Location: Tilburg Netherlands Posts: 599 Joined: 18.05.10 |
Thanks Cristophe! I have to agree but it keeps on bothering me....Size is very variable, i know. But i have seen hundreds of atricapillus in NL. In my collection average size is about 13 mm and none with red hair or bristles. Average of the red haired (7 specimina) is 17mm. All of these share red hair and bristles and golden brown dusting. I also caught a normal one but not in the broom field. It is against the odds. wish there was an expert who had been there to share the experience because i was convinced i collected an entirely other species than T. atricapillus. But when i used keys of Seguy and Engel i ended up there. On the left Redbeard male and on the right Normal male caught in the forest nearby. Please note difference in colour dusting thorax.
Quaedfliegh attached the following image:  [131.1Kb] Edited by Quaedfliegh on 10-09-2011 13:27 Greetings, Reinoud |
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| Quaedfliegh |
Posted on 07-09-2011 15:33
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Member Location: Tilburg Netherlands Posts: 599 Joined: 18.05.10 |
Following pictures of male and female in their tipical posture and very much alive.
Quaedfliegh attached the following image:  [146.06Kb] Edited by Quaedfliegh on 07-09-2011 15:36 Greetings, Reinoud |
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| Quaedfliegh |
Posted on 07-09-2011 15:35
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Member Location: Tilburg Netherlands Posts: 599 Joined: 18.05.10 |
Female
Quaedfliegh attached the following image:  [154.23Kb] Greetings, Reinoud |
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| christoophe |
Posted on 07-09-2011 20:50
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Member Location: France Provence Posts: 1292 Joined: 06.02.08 |
It's not for me Tolmerus atricapillus. Check if it Machimus chrysitis, first the last sternites and hypopygium. |
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| Quaedfliegh |
Posted on 07-09-2011 21:25
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Member Location: Tilburg Netherlands Posts: 599 Joined: 18.05.10 |
Thanks again Christophe! Description fits better but there is still a problem. Scutellum marginal bristels: 2-3 with all specimina and black. Hypopygium has not the tipical shape of M. chrysitis... 
Greetings, Reinoud |
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| Quaedfliegh |
Posted on 16-09-2011 00:26
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Member Location: Tilburg Netherlands Posts: 599 Joined: 18.05.10 |
Just to keep it up there  Has anybody got a clue?
Greetings, Reinoud |
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| Quaedfliegh |
Posted on 20-09-2011 23:43
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Member Location: Tilburg Netherlands Posts: 599 Joined: 18.05.10 |
Put them under the microscope again: Presutural hair: very short, much shorter than average T. atricapillus. Orbital bristles: Mostly white with T. atricapillus mostly black. Greetings, Reinoud |
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| Quaedfliegh |
Posted on 17-10-2011 23:44
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Member Location: Tilburg Netherlands Posts: 599 Joined: 18.05.10 |
I still want to know! If someone has an idea or question let me know!
Greetings, Reinoud |
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| Quaedfliegh |
Posted on 30-11-2011 23:15
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Member Location: Tilburg Netherlands Posts: 599 Joined: 18.05.10 |
I do not know if Tolmerus atricapillus calceatus still exists. Although i'm still convinced this is a different species. Mostly because of different behaviour, posture, size and colour.  Is there a Machimus/Tolmerus expert in the house??????
Edited by Quaedfliegh on 30-11-2011 23:16 Greetings, Reinoud |
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...what you prefer, we can discus this, during some good wine, cheese and many new pinned flies!