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Hi,


Pierre Duhem : France : Bessans : 73480 : 30/08/2013
Altitude : 1750 m - Taille : 13-17 mm
Réf. : 109046

Thereva female must be OK.
Could it be T. plebeja?

Thanks in advance.

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Hello Pierre,

This is indeed a female Thereva. The habitus looks o.k. for female T. plebeja, however...
For correct identification other than Thereva spec. or possible T. plebeja a photo of the dark spot between the eyes on the frons would be needed and a sparp photo of the abdominal tip displaying the spines there. The last is the only real difference between the closely resembling species T. strigata.

Greetings,

Ectemnius

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Hello Ectemnius,

Thanks for your opinion.
I don't think I have pictures with what you're asking for.

On the other hand, here is a male taken one minute later on the same flowers :


Pierre Duhem : France : Bessans : 73480 : 30/8/2013
Altitude : 1750 m - Taille : 15-18 mm
Réf. : 109082

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Hello Pierre,

Pfe, you're not making it easier :P... The male has the habitus of Thereva nobilitata. But the stigma is suspicously dark which is somewhat unusual, but not impossible for T. nobilitata. Males of Thereva are very hard to identify on photo. In Belgium and The Netherlands It's hard. But in Southern Europe and the Mountains of Central Europe there are so many species of Thereva it's impossible to ID. If you encounter more Therevidae and want an ID. You could catch it and send it to me, then ID is possible.

Greetings,

Ectemnius

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Hello Ectemnius,

Well, thanks anyway.