Posted by jezlee on 20-07-2007 09:11
#1
Can anyone help on this one? Could it be Graphomya picta? Or is it G.maculata?
Posted by Susan R Walter on 20-07-2007 13:28
#2
Jez
On the balance of probability, it will be G maculata, which is widespread and common in the UK. G minor (syn G picta) is uncommon and at very few sites - see Robert Nash's 1997 Northern Ireland Species Inventory (Muscidae and Fannidae)
http://www.ehsni....muscid.pdf. The amount of black on the thorax in Graphomyia's seems very variable, and I don't really know what the diagnostic characters for the two species are.
(Not really very helpful, I know, but hopefully someone will provide the answer for us both.) ;)
Posted by jezlee on 20-07-2007 15:23
#3
Susan R Walter wrote:
Jez
On the balance of probability, it will be G maculata, which is widespread and common in the UK. G minor (syn G picta) is uncommon and at very few sites - see Robert Nash's 1997 Northern Ireland Species Inventory (Muscidae and Fannidae)
http://www.ehsni....muscid.pdf. The amount of black on the thorax in Graphomyia's seems very variable, and I don't really know what the diagnostic characters for the two species are.
(Not really very helpful, I know, but hopefully someone will provide the answer for us both.) ;)
I didn't really expect a definitive answer, Susan - I know how difficult they can be to identify from photographs! On the laws of probability, as you say, it will be G.maculata - there were plenty of these about last week when I took this photograph. Thanks again for your input!
Jez
:)