Diptera.info

Posted by Marc T on 13-06-2020 20:57

Hello from the North of Germany,

where I caught a couple of fotos today in the Lüneburger Heide, showing a Spotted Flycatcher, Muscicapa striata, feeding on a tabanid fly.
It was quite a large fly, but obviously not big enough, a few minutes later, the bird came with another one ...

Thanks for helping with ID,

Marc

Germany, Lüneburger Heide, Otter - Groß Todtshorn, 13.06.2020 (Foto: Marc T.)

Edited by Marc T on 27-06-2020 20:54

Posted by Zeegers on 22-06-2020 20:26

It looks like Tabanus bovinus, but it probably is T. sudeticus with antenna that appear black (?)

Theo

Posted by Marc T on 26-06-2020 13:04

Hi Theo,

thanks for your help! I've just checked the German "Wikipedia", where T. bovinus is reported having - in contrast to T. sudeticus - green eyes. But I'm not sure, if this source is reliable!?

Unfortunately I don't have pic, where the antenna is fully visible, that's what you asked for, right?

BR, Marc

Posted by Zeegers on 27-06-2020 08:43

Yes, the eye colouration is valid, but very subtle. All features indicate bovinus, with the exception of the - apparent - strong dorsal tooth on third antennal segment.

And bovinus is probably extremely rare in the nirth of Germany, so I’d like to be dead sure.

Theo

Posted by Zeegers on 27-06-2020 15:07

Ah !! I noticed the dorsal tooth is even much too strong for sudeticus. So I took a very close look: the supposed dorsal tooth is actually the tip of front tarsus out of focus ! There is no drosal tooth. That settles it: Tabanus bovinus it is.

Please do educate your birds to find other snacks !

Theo

Posted by Marc T on 27-06-2020 20:50

Hi Theo,

excellent - thanks for your help! I was just searching for another pic, showing the antenna - I found one, maybe slightly different/better(?) view - but you nailed it anyway.

Sorry to say, these guys seem to love Tabanus sp., not sure, if it was again T. bovinus or T. sudeticus in the second case :o.
Today i saw another nest of the same bird species close the first one, adults carrying large Tabanus sp. for their youngs (at least four of them in the nest), but I haven't taken any pics.

But I'll try to convince them, looking for other preys, promised - all the best,

Marc

Edited by Marc T on 27-06-2020 21:16

Posted by Marc T on 27-06-2020 20:53

2nd prey, same location, same date, approx. 1/2 hour later - sorry, no pics available, showing more of the fly...