Thread subject: Diptera.info :: Bombylius venosus(?)

Posted by LakeSide on 21-04-2009 10:03
#1
Yesterday we found (Biesbosch, The Netherlands) a small Bombylius fly, which we believe is B. venosus. Can this be confirmed?
If it is B. venosus, can anything be said about it's distribution, because so far in The Netherlands only 4 sightings are registered and they are all in the deep south. Still the species is referred to as reasonably common.

farm4.static.flickr.com/3620/3462351840_184b54b059.jpg

farm4.static.flickr.com/3510/3462354126_8ba1c55183.jpg

farm4.static.flickr.com/3583/3461540543_c1e5c60234.jpg

Cheers.

Posted by David Gibbs on 22-04-2009 09:38
#2
probably, does anepisternum have black hairs (venosus) or is it entirely sandybrown-haired (canescens)?

Posted by LakeSide on 22-04-2009 10:48
#3
Thank you David.
The hairs are Black, so definitly venosus!

I have a couple of questions about this species though. Is it common (because there don't seem to be many sightings world) and what does it parasitise, because we seem to find them near Halictus bees?

Cheers,