Diptera.info :: Identification queries :: Diptera (adults)
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 Beefly Major/Minor.. differences??
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| Unk |
Posted on 01-07-2008 16:28
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Member Location: Wiltshire Posts: 1 Joined: 01.07.08 |
I am at sub-novice level at this bug watching stuff, but thoroughly enjoying it... but I have a nagging question. What are the key differences between a Beefly Major and Beefly Minor, for south coast UK. My 'spottings have been early June, in a very biodiverse 50 acres I planted up myself several years ago... and although I have narrowed the flying belly button fluff to the 'beefly'.. the time of year is smack bang in the middle f what I've been told for each of the major and minor variants. I notice they like to hover and watch me working, and they stay very close to the hedgerow... I have 68 catalogued species of grass and wildflower in the field, so won't bother listing them all here!  )happy to answer targetted questions. much oblidged I have a field. I have bugs. I have a net, I have view-jars....but I do not have the knowledge. |
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| Sundew |
Posted on 01-07-2008 17:20
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 Member Location: Berlin and Baden-Württemberg, Germany Posts: 3890 Joined: 28.07.07 |
Here's a helpful key: http://home.hccne...index.html Welcome to the forum! Regards, Sundew |
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| David Gibbs |
Posted on 01-07-2008 18:27
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 Member Location: Bristol, UK Posts: 833 Joined: 17.06.06 |
Beefly Major and Beefly Minor where do you get these names from, are you just translating the scientific name? Bombylius major and B. minor. very easily identified, B major clear-cut dark fore margin of wing, flying April-May (in uk) http://www.dipter...to_id=1596 B. minor has dark smudge at base of wing, only clear in male, flying July-August (in uk) http://www.dipter...342058.jpg is your field in Wiltshire? if so then B. minor very unlikley. largely confined to heathands of Dorset and Hampshire. B. major found everywhere. B. discolor (spotted wings - see gallery) locally present, if you are lucky you can see B. canescens on chalk grassland. Edited by David Gibbs on 02-07-2008 11:26 |
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