Thread subject: Diptera.info :: Tachinidae of today (2)
Posted by Sundew on 15-07-2010 17:37
#1
Hi,
Here comes another Tachinid of today, feeding on a
Cirsium arvense flowerhead. I feel I should know it, but I am not certain... Help, please!
Many thanks, Sundew
Posted by Sundew on 15-07-2010 17:37
#2
More pics.
Posted by ChrisR on 15-07-2010 17:49
#3
Eriothrix rufomaculata - just about the commonest species at this time of year ;)
Look for: red abdominal side-patches; silvery face with protruding mouth edge; slightly shaded wings with small petiole; large costal spine; and more than 2 dark vittae on the thorax :)
Edited by ChrisR on 15-07-2010 17:51
Posted by Sundew on 15-07-2010 17:57
#4
Aha - many thanks, Chris! I already have some (not too good) photos of this species, but the red side-patches were much redder and shiny and thus much more conspicuous in these pictures, so the fly of today did not really ring a bell in my brain.
Posted by ChrisR on 15-07-2010 18:03
#5
The problem is that those red side patches are very variable ... from covering virtually the whole length of the abdomen to no red at all ... the shading and petiole are a bit variable too. Flies like that with a much longer petiole (as long as r-m) would be
Zeuxia sp. and flies like that with 2 broad black vittae on the thorax would be
Mintho sp. :) Those are just generalizations of course but you get the idea.