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Today 16-05-2011, this very big (estimated 23 mm) tabanus-fly sat on a wooden fence. France, Indre, 36170 Saint Gilles. Habitat: flowery meadows, thickets and on loamy soil with seepage influence. Is it possible to identify it?

Thanks very much for any comment.

Tjitske Lubach

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another photo

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Very nice

The more greeny eyes clearly indicates bovinus.
It might be spodopterus, though....



Theo

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Thank you Theo, I can't find much about T. spodopterus. Is it bigger than bovinus? Could you tell me if it is possible to ID from photo or living animal? I read something in a previous thread: "posterior two pairs of tibiae are brownish minimaly in the basal half"

Is this visible in the next photo?

Thanks again, Tjitske

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I can see pale sublateral spots in this last photo which would make it Tabanus autumnalis, ie spots either side of the central line of pale triangles on the abdomen Its very difficult to see them in the first photos because of the reflection from the wings - always good to post photos from different angles. The black antennae which had Theo thinking of spodopterus is also consistent with autumnalis
which can also be just over 20mm

Steve

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Thank you very much Steve. I will try to post better photo's next time.