Posted by jezlee on 07-08-2008 21:50
#1
I took this shot today in my garden in Wolverhampton, UK ... this fly was crawling all over the black fly on my nasturtiums (I presume collecting their sugary nectar, like ants do) ? would this be Lucilia caesar, or are there similar species in the UK?
Posted by ChrisR on 07-08-2008 23:08
#2
Quite a few similar species :(
A smaller photo would be better too - try to keep 640x480 pixels or less if you can ;)
Posted by jezlee on 08-08-2008 09:47
#3
Chris Raper wrote:
Quite a few similar species :(
A smaller photo would be better too - try to keep 640x480 pixels or less if you can ;)
Oops, sorry about the pic size! :(
I presume then, Chris, to determine species you would have to use a microscope?
Posted by Susan R Walter on 08-08-2008 13:04
#4
Hi Jez, nice to see you back.
It's
L sericata, female, by the look of it. (Pale basicosta, single ad on mid-tibia, very widely spaced eyes.) 3 post sutural acr preclude
L caesar, which only has 2. Also
sericata is much more likely than
caesar to be found in an urban habitat, and is by far the most commonly encountered Lucilia species in my experience.
Basicosta - where the wing joins the body. ad - a single forward pointing bristle on the middle tibia. Post sutural acr - the pair of bristle rows running lengthwise down the middle of the top of the thorax. The suture is the crease that runs across the thorax from just behind the forelegs.