Thread subject: Diptera.info :: Dark Blue Tachinid --> Eurithia sp.
Posted by tristram on 20-11-2010 22:37
#1
I first thought this was
Pales pavida but it doesn't have the reddish tip to its scutellum. Is it
Epicampocera succinata?
Edited by tristram on 21-11-2010 23:42
Posted by tristram on 20-11-2010 22:38
#2
From above:
Posted by ChrisR on 21-11-2010 00:06
#3
Hairy eyes and a projecting mouth edge? Should be
Eurithia anthophila :) It looks a bit too big for
Epicampocera.
EDIT:
Epicampocera are quite dark-blue but the relative proportions of head to body are different too.
Edited by ChrisR on 21-11-2010 00:10
Posted by Zeegers on 21-11-2010 09:52
#4
Where is it from ?
It is Eurithia, but not anthophila: the vertex is too narrow and the palpus is yellow, suggesting Eu. vivida, the most bluish Eurithia in my experience.
Theo
Posted by ChrisR on 21-11-2010 12:21
#5
Very interesting record if it is
E.vivida - they're rare as hen's teeth in the UK :)
Posted by Zeegers on 21-11-2010 13:13
#6
is it from the UK and are we very VERY sure (too paraphrase the Spice Girls) that the pictures concern the same specimen ??
Theo
Posted by tristram on 21-11-2010 20:32
#7
Wow! Thanks Chris and Theo!
I took the photos in The Wilderness, a wooded area in Reading University grounds, Reading, UK, on 2010-07-30. On Google maps:
http://maps.googl...h&z=17
I am confident that both of the above photos were of the same specimen. Looking back at my original records, I find that I have a sequence of 8 contiguous photos of this specimen, including the above two, with times of 10h51m or 10h52m. I then have a few photos of other insects, followed by 4 contiguous photos of something very similar or identical the above specimen with times of 10h55m or 10h56m.
The following photo is the first of the sequence of 8:
Posted by Zeegers on 21-11-2010 20:39
#8
Well, there is no way to be sure which species this is.
In the first pic, the palpus is yellow, so it seems, in the last it is definitely dark, suggesting connivens rather than vivida. Moreover, the last pic clearly shows 4 post DC, the apparent 3 post DC from the first pic is misleading. Time and locality support connivens.
So with the new information I'd favour connivens.
Still I guess connivens is pretty good as well.
Theo
Posted by ChrisR on 21-11-2010 20:59
#9
E.connivens would be typical for this part of the country - I get plenty each year usually :)
Posted by tristram on 21-11-2010 21:43
#10
The following photo is the last of the sequence of 4, so it might not be the same specimen and the above. (The rest of my photos were more blurred).
Posted by ChrisR on 21-11-2010 23:23
#11
Well, it is definitely
Eurithia but the male genitalia are usually retracted too much to male out anything ... here we really need a specimen ;)
Posted by tristram on 21-11-2010 23:40
#12
Maybe next year. Thanks again for your help.