Thread subject: Diptera.info :: Parageron sp. (Bombyliidae Usiinae)

Posted by Isidro on 24-03-2025 07:09
#1

Which species of Parageron is it? incisus, gratus, auratus?
It was resting on a semi-open flowerhead of Calendula arvensis in a cloudy-slightly rainy day in open terrain over dry grypsy soil next to a village. Photographed at El Burgo de Ebro (Zaragoza, NE Spain) on 23th March 2025. 183 meters over sea.
Size was relatively big, I can't say exactly but it would be almost as bulky as a small housefly.

i.ibb.co/1fdq9rXJ/P1570552-23-3-25-Burgo-de-Ebro.jpg

Posted by eklans on 25-03-2025 10:23
#2

I think P. incisus is correct (seems to be too large for gratus).
https://www.biodi...46242.html

Posted by Isidro on 25-03-2025 21:12
#3

Many thanks, eklans!
It was fairly large, but in the same place it was a male (not photographed) that was really tiny.
I've readed somewhere that the species that flies in March is gratus, incisus flies later in the year and not before April (for Spain). And this year has been especially cold and rainy. Still is incisus the best candidatus? I've also readed that there are differences in pilosity of face and thorax and curvature of th tip of the vein R4, but I neither have found info about what are these differences, not see them in image comparisons.

Posted by eklans on 26-03-2025 16:17
#4

A tricky genus: I've read through "A world review of the bee fly tribe Usiini (Diptera, Bombyliidae) — Part 3: Parageron Paramonov s. lat." by David Gibbs, 2023. Parageron gratus and incisus are now Protypusia grata and incisia.
Following the key your female seems to be Protypusia grata indeed as the hairs on front are blackish to brown while incisa's are silky white and shorter. And even the end of March would be quite early for incisa.
Sizes: grata 2.3-7.5, incisa 8.0 - 10.0

EDIT: + straight vein R4 at apex!

Edited by eklans on 26-03-2025 16:56

Posted by Isidro on 26-03-2025 19:42
#5

Thanks eklans, so looks like it's clear that is Parageron gratus, just at the larger side of size variation!