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Hi, fly lovers! :)

I have this Tachinidae found in a kind of garden close to coastal cliffs in Cabo Peñas (Asturias, N Spain) on July the 28th. No ideas about it. :( Can anyone help me?

Thanks in advance for any hint!

Regards

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Another view of the same specimen:

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The only thing that makes sense is Gymnophryxe.

I know it is active in early spring. Does it have a second generation ?
I don't have time to look it up right now, come back to you


Theo

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No idea about the number of generations. :-( But I can try to find out...

Anyway, loads of thanks for your reply!!

And looking forward to hearing from you. ;)

Regards

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So, I had a very quick look in Mesnil:

It could be the other Gymnophryxe (from my perspective): G. inconspicua.
So far only recorded from the Pyrenees.
That is active in summer !

This still needs to be verified, but that would be a terrific find !.


Theo

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Thank you very much, Theo!! :)

I can't find images of Gymnophryxe inconspicua, and I don't have any description. :( Is there anything to be seen to verify its a Gymnophryxe? This couple of pictures attached are the best I have but I took several other shots and I might have other details to show.

If you are right and it's Gymnophryxe inconspicua I'll do the effort to try to verify the identity of this character. :)

Regards

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I have no doubt it is Gymnophryxe.
A picture from behind would help.
Based on the head shape, it is indeed G. inconspicua.

But I would like to see the abdominal pattern from behind to be more sure.


Theo

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Oh, by the way, the species is very little collected, therefore, only description available is in Mesnil in Lindner: 509 ( as Archiclops !)


Theo

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I'm very sorry, Theo, I misunderstood you when you said "The only thing that makes sense is Gymnophryxe". :o I thought you got there just by ruling out other possibilities.

Anyway, once it's clear it is a Gymnophryxe, here you have a rear view of the abdomen. I hope it helps.

And loads of thanks for your help and interest!! :)

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Based on the shape of the head, this is probably Gymnophryxe inconspicua.
That is a tremendous nice find ! So far, only known from a few localities in the Pyrenees.
The pattern on the abdomen, however, differs from the description.

It could be that the species is variable. The same holds for G. carthaginiensis.


Theo

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Update:

-1) I checked my G. cathaginiensis. In all cases, tergite 3 lacks any trace of black apical border. Therefore, this specimen above must be G. inconspicua indeed.

-2) G. inconspicua has been treated with picture by Cerretti in his Italian monograph

-3) According to Herting (1984), G. inconspicua occurs from Spain via Turkey to Mongolia. So widespread, but very rare everywhere.

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Hi Theo,

What do you think about this other specimen which Chris thought might be Gymnophryxe rather than Pachystylum?

http://www.dipter...d_id=54648

regards, Steve

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Yes, good point.

I looked at it this morning.
There are clearly discal bristles present.
That shouldn't be in Gymnophryxe cathaginiensis.

So either it is something else or this species is variable as well.

In my cathaginiensis (n = 5), discal are really absent.


Theo

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Thank you very much for the effort to ID this and all the information!!

But at this point I'm somehow confused, as I have no idea about Gymnophryxe. :( Which is the best way to edit this thread? "Gymnophryxe cf. inconspicua"? "cf. Gymnophryxe inconspicua"? Or the ID as Gymnophryxe inconspicua is sure enough (in spite of the possible variability)?

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Identifications on pictures are never 100 % sure.

I would go for Gymnophryxe cf. inconspicua.


Theo

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OK, Theo, thanks a lot. I'm at last editing the title of this thread.

Thank you again for all your effort. :)

Regards