Posted by Carnifex on 15-01-2026 08:32
#1
Tentatively IDed as B. saundersi: long antennal hairs, r-m vein present (albeit very short).
Location: Lower Austria, garden (mid January)
I used the UK key, where some central European species are not included, and I wonder about the possibility of B. austriaca. What confuses me, in the original description of the latter (https://www.zobodat.at/pdf/ANNA_57_0281-0283.pdf) it reads (translated):
distinguished from M. saundersii Curt, and M. spinigera Edw. by the missing central spot over r—m and by the hypopygium
Whereas the UK key for saundersii mentions:
No dark spot over r-m (fig. 62)
I might have a look at the genitalia as well.
Are there any depictions of B. austriaca besides the original description?
I assume there is currently no key for the European species.
