Diptera.info :: Identification queries :: Diptera (adults)
 Calliphoridae -> Melinda sp.
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| nick upton |
Posted on 20-03-2010 19:59
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Member Location: Wiltshire, UK Posts: 828 Joined: 12.03.10 |
Can anyone identify this bluebottle with very red eyes with certainty? Calliphora erythrocephala?? maybe? and if so, what is the defining character? Photographed 4.6.09 in Wiltshire, southwest UK. NickU nick upton attached the following image:  [121.11Kb] Edited by nick upton on 26-06-2010 19:00 |
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| Stephen R |
Posted on 20-03-2010 20:04
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 Member Location: Clitheroe Lancashire UK Posts: 2396 Joined: 12.06.09 |
Looks like a fresh Lucilia to me. |
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| nick upton |
Posted on 20-03-2010 20:21
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Member Location: Wiltshire, UK Posts: 828 Joined: 12.03.10 |
I'm used to them looking much greener. Do you mean they can be more bluish like this fly (it really was blue, it's not a bad grade!) when first emerged? NickU |
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| Stephen R |
Posted on 20-03-2010 20:26
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Member Location: Clitheroe Lancashire UK Posts: 2396 Joined: 12.06.09 |
Yes, they start blue but turn green quite quickly, and then gradually bronze. |
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| nick upton |
Posted on 20-03-2010 20:34
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Member Location: Wiltshire, UK Posts: 828 Joined: 12.03.10 |
OK, interesting....thanks. Had not come across mention of that before. And if it had been green, I'd have had it as Lucilia sp. which it probably is, as you suggest. Nick |
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| Stephane Lebrun |
Posted on 21-03-2010 13:14
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 Member Location: Le Havre, France Posts: 8248 Joined: 03.03.07 |
Sorry, this is not a Luculia, but a Melinda.
Stephane. |
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| Stephen R |
Posted on 21-03-2010 15:08
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Member Location: Clitheroe Lancashire UK Posts: 2396 Joined: 12.06.09 |
Very sorry Nick, I should have warned you I don't know what I'm talking about  Stephen. |
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| nick upton |
Posted on 21-03-2010 18:32
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Member Location: Wiltshire, UK Posts: 828 Joined: 12.03.10 |
Many thanks Stephane with your expert help on this, and no worries Stephen. I can see from other forum entries that Melinda sp. often cause problems. Maybe they are not very common? Or maybe just very easily confused with other common species and get overlooked as a result??. I read that their larvae are parasites of snails and that there are only 2 UK species Melinda viridicyanea and V. gentilis (very similar of course... so I doubt anyone can tell me which one this is). I've been struggling to find out how to be sure this fly is Melinda so I'll know it if I see another. If I'm right, it may be that it is bristlier on the thorax than a fresh Lucilia and always blue and quite small c 5mm. It also has white dusting or speckles on the thorax. I hope someone will correct me if I've missed something else really definitive that might be visible in the field. Nick |
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| Stephane Lebrun |
Posted on 21-03-2010 21:01
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Member Location: Le Havre, France Posts: 8248 Joined: 03.03.07 |
This is correct (except for the more bristly thorax). We can add that the deflection of vein M is less angular than in Lucilia/Calliphora.
Stephane. |
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| nick upton |
Posted on 22-03-2010 18:15
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Member Location: Wiltshire, UK Posts: 828 Joined: 12.03.10 |
Many thanks Stephane for the extra guidance. i think I'll know Melinda the next time I see one. I'm a good learner, but know I have a long way to go with so many Diptera out there! Nick |
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