Diptera.info :: Family forums :: Asilidae Forum
 Turkish mimic robberfly
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| Cor Zonneveld |
Posted on 06-06-2008 06:22
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 Member Location: Amstelveen, the Netherlands Posts: 840 Joined: 14.10.06 |
Last week (28 May) I saw this spectacular robberfly in Turkey (mid south, nearest big city Adana). It closely resembles Vespa orientalis. This is especially so in flight; I first so the it flying, and I was convinced it was a Vespa! Then it landed on a bush, rather unusual for Vespa; and folded it wings unlike a Vespa; and only when I saw the antennae I realised it was an Asilid! It is a large Asilid, and although I saw it only (too) briefly, I'ld say somewhere around 30 mm (Vespa orientalis is a BIG wasp!). Altitude ca 1000 m. The area was covered with bushes up to 2,5 m, but not too dense - you could walk through the bushes. I saw the fly on the edge of an small open field. Based on built and the antennae I expect it to be a member of the Laphriinae. Can anyone ID it any further? Cor Zonneveld attached the following image:  [73.85Kb] Thanks for your attention Cor Zonneveld |
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| Cor Zonneveld |
Posted on 06-06-2008 06:23
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Member Location: Amstelveen, the Netherlands Posts: 840 Joined: 14.10.06 |
and here is the model - Vespa orientalis.
Cor Zonneveld attached the following image:  [122.59Kb] Thanks for your attention Cor Zonneveld |
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| Eric Fisher |
Posted on 06-06-2008 16:05
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 Member Location: California Posts: 435 Joined: 19.05.06 |
This is Laphria dizonias, indeed a spectacular fly. Great job on associating mimic & model. |
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| Cor Zonneveld |
Posted on 08-06-2008 21:34
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Member Location: Amstelveen, the Netherlands Posts: 840 Joined: 14.10.06 |
Thanks!
Thanks for your attention Cor Zonneveld |
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