Thread subject: Diptera.info :: Tachinidae?

Posted by ChrisR on 06-07-2006 20:47
#8

Hi Pierre, the two choices were Eriothrix rufomaculata, which has just started flying here... and Mintho rufivetris, which has been around for a month already. Both species are black with red patches on the abdomen, some grey dusting, some wing shading and a large costal spine. Mintho is distinctive when seen in real-life because the abdomen is laterally compressed - it is taller than it is wide - but that isn't always obvious from photos. Eriothrix has a strongly protruding mouth edge but, again it depends on the angle of the photo :) However, Mintho has quite a characteristic pattern of stripes on the thorax caused by the dusting (2 black lines, 3 grey) - different from Eriothrix (5 grey lines, 2 wide black & 2 narrow black).

So, with the pattern of lines on the thorax; the not very protruding mouth edge; and the shape, colour, dusting and bristles on the abdomen... I'd say "Mintho rufiventris" :D

But, after all that someone will probably say I am wrong!! ;)