Thread subject: Diptera.info :: Villa sp. in the UK> V. cingulata

Posted by nick upton on 26-06-2012 08:50
#1

I came across this beefly yesterday feeding on Hogweed in a chalk grassland site in Wiltshire and knew it was one I hadn't seen in the UK so took a lot of photos. I'm pretty sure it's a Villa sp. and read that the only species regularly recorded in the UK is Villa modesta, but only from coastal sand dunes. From the habitat this is more likely to be Villa venusta or Villa cingulata, the only other UK Villa sp. and both are very rare from what i can discover. I know Villa are tricky but is it possible to ID the species? I have many more shots if specific angles/details are needed, but offer several here. The white marks on the base of the wings was very clear in head on views. It looms like a very fresh specimen so hope the pattern of hair tufts on the abdomen will help.

10mm Wiltshire chalk grassland 25.6.12

Edited by nick upton on 27-02-2013 17:25