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The attached photo was taken in South East England 1st July 2007. I have recently reviewed it and suspect it may be 'Diplostichus janithrix'

I would be grateful if anyone could correct or confirm the Identification

Regards

Gordon

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second photo

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Sorry Gordon,

I can disconfirm it. Diplostichus is completely different (from a Tachinids point of view)
Diplostichus is also rare and mostly reared.

I have no idea what this is, the pictures don't show enough detail. It looks interesting.

Theo

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Looks a bit "Sturmiini" to me ... maybe? :)

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Thank you very much

Regards
Gordon

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A female Carcelia perhaps? I don't think that id is possible.

As for Diplostichus; you need rather open habitat with low pine trees. I've only once caught one from open (early June) but I have a large series reared from Diprion pini. If you ever encounter aggregations of Diprionidae, Diplostichus should be fairly common parasitoid and easy to rear. They emerge from the host cocoon after overwintering. Curiously, the cocoons from which the flies have emerged have a nice, smooth opening, almost like knife-cut. I bit suspect that the host larva chews this before it is killed by the parasitoid. The opening is not visible beforehand. In contrast Drino inconspigua from same series pushed through the host cocoon, leaving a ripped opening.

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janithrix = door opener, referring to the way the pupa leaves the host.


Theo

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That's interesting! Thanks Theo.