Diptera.info :: Identification queries :: Diptera (adults)
Who is here? 1 guest(s)
 Fly on orchid > Thecophora cf atra (Conopidae)
|
|
| Susan R Walter |
Posted on 30-05-2011 15:25
|
 Member Location: Touraine du Sud, central France Posts: 1802 Joined: 14.01.06 |
Can anyone offer an opinion as to what this fly might be? It was photographed on 21 May 2011 on Short-spurred Fragrant Orchid Gymnadenia odoratissima growing on a limestone spur in central lowland France. My thoughts are Scathophagidae, Anthomyidae or Muscidae. The ground around the orchid colony was full of dozens of tiny solitary bees and at first I thought the fly was one of them. They were about the same size (3-4mm).
Susan R Walter attached the following image:  [75.46Kb] Edited by Susan R Walter on 30-05-2011 21:08 Susan |
 |
|
| Susan R Walter |
Posted on 30-05-2011 15:27
|
|
Member Location: Touraine du Sud, central France Posts: 1802 Joined: 14.01.06 |
Another view - it might help. Sorry the photos are so poor - the best I could do with a small fly and my camera.
Susan R Walter attached the following image:  [74.66Kb] Susan |
|
|
|
| ChrisR |
Posted on 30-05-2011 15:37
|
 Super Administrator Location: Reading, England Posts: 7706 Joined: 12.07.04 |
Thecophora (atra?) ... a conopid - I have been seeing them recently too 
Manager of the UK Species Inventory in the Angela Marmont Centre for UK Biodiversity at the Natural History Museum, London. |
|
|
|
| Susan R Walter |
Posted on 30-05-2011 20:49
|
|
Member Location: Touraine du Sud, central France Posts: 1802 Joined: 14.01.06 |
Aaah! That makes a bit more sense. I didn't realise conopids came in such teeny weeny sizes. A conopid would have some chance of getting at the nectar - they may be Short-spurred, but an insect still needs a fairly long tongue to access it. I wonder if they are known pollinators of this species of orchid? Susan |
|
|
|
| ChrisR |
Posted on 30-05-2011 20:54
|
|
Super Administrator Location: Reading, England Posts: 7706 Joined: 12.07.04 |
Hmm, I doubt it - Fragrant orchids are not common and pollinators are usually difficult to pin down ... and they are usually far less specific than people think too.
Manager of the UK Species Inventory in the Angela Marmont Centre for UK Biodiversity at the Natural History Museum, London. |
|
|
|
| Jump to Forum: |