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Hello,
We have only two UK Miltogramma species. How are they separated? This one found in an old sand pit in Shropshire.

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facial view:

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Hi Nigel - I'm not absolutely certain this is a Miltogramma. :o
Those chunky bristles on the face look like well-differentiated vibrissae, which Miltogramma should not have. I don't have my sarcophagids to hand at present, but when I get a chance, I'll compare your pics to some other species.
In the meantime, could you check how many anterodorsal bristles there are on the mid tibia? (i.e. on the shaft, not at the tip, pointing out and towards the front)
Thanks

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Hello Tony,
Will do and I will post the results here:)

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Hello Tony,There is just a single antero-dorsal bristle on the mid tibia. Photo below. I have checked both legs and both have just one bristle in this position.

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A Miltogramminae need to to imply a Miltogramma.

In this case, it is clearly a Miltogramminae but clearly no Miltogramma. Miltogramma lacks vibrissae.
At this moment, cannot tell the correct genus, though


Theo Zeegers

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Thanks Theo & Tony
Looks like I'll need to invest in a good key then.

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Thanks for taking the extra picture, Nigel. It helps a great deal to decide what this fly is not, but, like Theo, I'm stumped to say what it is! :(

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Well, I had a look at some flies in my collection, and I reckon this is Senotainia (and having dark palpi therefore conica). There's a bit of variation in the size of the arista and antenna, and in the parafacial hairs, and your specimen appears to be fit quite well. Please let us know if it turns out to be something different when you get the key! ;)

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I was inclined to reach the same conclusion as Tony.

So, it's now two votes for Setotainia

Theo

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Tony and Theo,
Thanks very much for all the time you have spent on this little puzzle. I will ask Steve Falk for his draft kay and seehow I get on. It may be a while before I reach any conclusions though!

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This is obviously Senotainia albifrons.

In the netherlands it occurs in the costal dunes, probably with Bembix rostrata as the host.

Liekele

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Hi Liekele
Are you sure about the species? S.albifrons has not been recorded in the British Isles, and this specimen appears to have very dark palpi.

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Hi Tony,

Identification with pictures is always difficult. I prefer to see the specimen itself before saying to be sure.

However, the profile of the head in the first picture is like S. albifrons. The coloration of the abdomen is like albifrons and indeed, the dark palpi are like S.albifrons.

If you want to report it as a new species for the English fauna I recommend to send the specimen to me or other Sarcophagidae specialists.

Liekele