Diptera.info

Posted by richard on 29-06-2011 19:43

Taken today in Nottinghamshire, I wonder if it is possible to say which Conops species this is please?

Thank you

Posted by sd on 30-06-2011 11:38

In the UK, with the small yellow theca and yellow face, this should be Conops quadrifasciatus

Steve

Posted by richard on 30-06-2011 19:37

I have been trying to find out what the theca is - is it a sheath enclosing the genitalia?

Also I have found this key

http://home.hccnet.nl/mp.van.veen/conopidae/conops.html

which started by asking

"Thorax at the sides with a silverish stripe (from wing to leg 2) -> 2 "

Does the image below show that stripe as a horixontal line above the wing attachment? Or is the line that I can see just a trick of the light?

Thanks

Edited by richard on 30-06-2011 19:40

Posted by sd on 30-06-2011 20:02

The theca is a modified part of the female abdomen in conopids which helps with egg laying in their bee/wasp host, its not sexual. The theca varies in shape and size quite considerably between species. This difference may be due to different ovipositing strategies or could be for completely different reasons, eg courtship/recognition - I'm not sure anyone has a definite answer:)

Mark's key is excellent/fantastic/up-to-date:)

I think I see the silver stripe, just a bit blurred and shadowed.
There is a pinned quadrifasciatus female in the gallery though its labelled male instead of female - which happens a lot with conopids:)

Steve