Thread subject: Diptera.info :: Tachina fera?
Posted by LordV on 19-03-2006 20:06
#1
Anyone confirm ID of this one? about 11mm long taken today South coast uk.
Brian V.
Posted by Nikita Vikhrev on 19-03-2006 20:43
#2
I don't think so.
I think Muscidae, Phaonia.
Posted by LordV on 19-03-2006 21:48
#3
Thanks Nikita :) didn't think the hairs around the bum were big enough for a Tachina sp. but nothing else close to it in my puny British insects book.
Brian V.
Posted by Susan R Walter on 20-03-2006 15:03
#4
From my recent experiences in Essex, I agree - it will be one of the several species of Phaonia that have been emerging in the last couple of months here. The wretched things are the dipteran equivalent of LBJs in the birding world. I caught yet another species this weekend which will no doubt end up on this forum after I have gnashed my teeth at it for a suitable period and not come to a conclusion about species name. I get
Tachina fera as well, but it is very much a summer species and looks about twice the size as Phaonia - much bigger and fatter (and hairier).
Posted by Paul Beuk on 20-03-2006 15:31
#5
FYI: I think 'LBJ' means 'little brown job'. B)
Posted by Kahis on 20-03-2006 18:34
#6
Susan R Walter wrote:
From my recent experiences in Essex, I agree - it will be one of the several species of Phaonia that have been emerging in the last couple of months here. The wretched things are the dipteran equivalent of LBJs in the birding world. I caught yet another species this weekend which will no doubt end up on this forum after I have gnashed my teeth at it for a suitable period and not come to a conclusion about species name. I get Tachina fera as well, but it is very much a summer species and looks about twice the size as Phaonia - much bigger and fatter (and hairier).
From your description and the time of year, I'd guess you have found a
Gonia (Tachinidae). I checked a few relevant images found by a Google image search; they were (an almost unique occurence) correctly determined.
Posted by Zeegers on 20-03-2006 18:57
#7
It's a bit early, even for Gonia, though it could be G. ornata.
But let's start with the family, since Muscidae is more likely:
Does vein M have a clear bent in the apical half of the wing ?
If not, you have a Muscidae (or Anthomyiidae).
Theo
Posted by Susan R Walter on 23-03-2006 15:37
#8
Kahis, Theo
I can't bear it!:( Don't tell me I've been sucked in too,
again, by the generalist guides! But are you sure my tachinids are going to be
Gonia? They don't have the smacked in the face look of
Gonia and do have yellow wing bases. They appear in my local cemetery park in numbers from May to September. I must admit I never captured one, I was just observing in the field last year, and I didn't have a key for tachinids. This year I have a key for the European species, so might make some progress.
Brian - sorry for sidetracking the discussion somewhat from your pic, but I guess you get much the same species as me, so might also like to know the answer to this question as well.;)
Posted by Kahis on 23-03-2006 17:19
#9
Don't panic. If it does not match
Gonia, then it isn't
Gonia ;) Without a photo we may not be able to say much more.
"...the smacked in the face look of
Gonia"B):o Can't argue with that description.
Edited by Kahis on 23-03-2006 17:20
Posted by Robert Nash on 23-03-2006 18:30
#10
Nikita is right :p:p This is a muscid Muscidae Either
Phaonia or
Mydaea
Robert
Edited by Robert Nash on 23-03-2006 18:30