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Diptera.info :: Identification queries :: Diptera (adults)
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[Thereva inornata] Thereva ♂
JC_Bartolucci
#1 Print Post
Posted on 31-05-2025 20:23
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Posts: 131
Joined: 06.05.20

Hello,

I’m submitting this male Thereva specimen for your opinions. I’m aware that identifying males in this genus is notoriously tricky, but following the key I used (not the one by Mark van Veen, which unfortunately seems no longer accessible), I was able to observe the listed characters that lead me to Thereva inornata:

2b. Anterior part of tergites 2–5 dark
4b. At least part of the tergites matte
5a. At least one posteroventral seta at the base of the hind femur
6a. Two pairs of dorsocentral setae
-> Thereva inornata

www.galerie-insecte.org/galerie/image/dos359/big/P5170394_modif.JPG
JC Bartolucci : France : Saint-Laurent-d'Aigouze : 30220 : 17/05/2025
Altitude : NR - Taille : 12 mm
Réf. : 359537

www.galerie-insecte.org/galerie/image/dos359/big/P5170395_modif.JPG
JC Bartolucci : France : Saint-Laurent-d'Aigouze : 30220 : 17/05/2025
Altitude : NR - Taille : 12 mm
Réf. : 359540

www.galerie-insecte.org/galerie/image/dos359/big/P5170396_modif.JPG
JC Bartolucci : France : Saint-Laurent-d'Aigouze : 30220 : 17/05/2025
Altitude : NR - Taille : 12 mm
Réf. : 359541

Despite these matching features, I still have some doubts — particularly due to the dark wing zones, which don’t quite match the gallery images I’ve seen for T. inornata.

Any thoughts or confirmation would be greatly appreciated Smile

Thanks in advance!

JC
Edited by JC_Bartolucci on 06-05-2026 09:54
 
JC_Bartolucci
#2 Print Post
Posted on 02-06-2025 21:53
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Thereva sp. ?
 
JC_Bartolucci
#3 Print Post
Posted on 22-06-2025 07:45
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I'm bringing this topic back up for one last try Smile
 
JC_Bartolucci
#4 Print Post
Posted on 02-05-2026 13:29
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I try again Smile
 
eklans
#5 Print Post
Posted on 03-05-2026 09:17
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Location: Franconia, Germany
Posts: 4545
Joined: 11.11.18

I'm pretty sure that male Thereva inornata is correct.
Greetings, Eric
 
JC_Bartolucci
#6 Print Post
Posted on 03-05-2026 12:19
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Thank you for your confirmation Smile
 
JC_Bartolucci
#7 Print Post
Posted on 05-05-2026 08:34
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It is mentioned here that Thereva inornata is a mountain species. I asked Theo for further details about my specimen, but he told me that he is no longer interested in this family and is therefore no longer able to help.

If the montane affinity of this species is indeed confirmed, then the habitat does not fit my observation, which was made in an agricultural lowland area near freshwater and brackish marshes.
 
Carnifex
#8 Print Post
Posted on 05-05-2026 09:25
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Location: Vienna, Austria
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Not commenting on the ID, but currently the Therevidae key by Mark van Veen is still accessible via wayback machine:

https://web.archi...vidae.html

.
Edited by Carnifex on 05-05-2026 09:25
Cheers, Lorin

Font Color
All requests are from the urban area of Vienna, if not otherwise stated.

My Diptera observations (and other living forms) can be found here, and corrections or comments over there would also be appreciated.
 
JC_Bartolucci
#9 Print Post
Posted on 06-05-2026 10:07
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I am revisiting the Thereva inornata ♂ hypothesis for my specimen, based on three sources:

Mark van Veen – Therevidae of Northwest Europe
Mortelmans & De Bree (2022)
Haarto & Winqvist (2006)

For reference, the original discussion on insecte.org is here.

Using van Veen’s key, I arrive at T. inornata, mainly because my specimen seems to show:

basal posteroventral setae on hind femur 3;
tergites 4–5 mostly grey/pruinose;
a rather narrow dark anterior band on tergites 4–5;
two pairs of dorsocentral setae.

However, after reading Mortelmans & De Bree (2022), I understand that males of T. inornata, T. nobilitata and T. handlirschi are very close and should ideally be confirmed using terminalia and chaetotaxy.

As I understand the published distinctions:

T. inornata

hind femur with basal anteroventral row plus 1–4 posteroventral setae;
hind femur chaetotaxy usually described as nearly or usually uniserial;
tergites 4–5 mostly grey/pruinose with a narrow dark anterior band;
two pairs of dorsocentrals.

T. nobilitata

hind femur with only a basal anteroventral row, without a distinct posteroventral row;
anteroventral setae on hind femur more irregular, with displaced/additional setae basally;
chaetotaxy considered multiserial;
may sometimes also have two pairs of dorsocentrals, so that character alone is not enough.

T. handlirschi

hind femur with only a basal anteroventral row, regular, without displaced/additional basal setae;
chaetotaxy uniserial;
scutellum with dense yellow or almost entirely yellow pubescence;
also with two pairs of dorsocentrals.

So, the main point seems to be the hind femur chaetotaxy:

T. inornata: posteroventral setae present, chaetotaxy nearly/uniserial;
T. nobilitata: no distinct posteroventral row, chaetotaxy multiserial;
T. handlirschi: no posteroventral row, chaetotaxy uniserial, but with a distinctly yellow-haired scutellum.

Ecologically, the habitat of my specimen also seems worth mentioning: it was observed in a lowland Mediterranean area, in open agricultural plain near freshwater and brackish marshes. From van Veen and Haarto & Winqvist, T. inornata seems more associated with sandy habitats than with mountain habitats strictly speaking.

So at the moment T. inornata still looks like the best fit to me, but I would be very interested in your opinion, especially on the chaetotaxy of hind femur 3 and whether T. nobilitata / T. handlirschi can be excluded here.

Many thanks for the replies already provided, and also for the documents and references that have been shared so far.
 
libor
#10 Print Post
Posted on 06-05-2026 14:39
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Location: western Bohemia
Posts: 1302
Joined: 30.05.09

Is the specimen in your hands? In that case, simply dissect it, the penis is quite distinctive.
Libor
 
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