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Dear fellows dipterist,

I thought I would easely identify this relativly big tachindae (12mm), but I end out in dead end in keys I tried (central european key and Belshaw's)
On tachinidae.eu, I end on nothing...

So I guess I am wrong in the interpretation of one of the character... if someone has an idea to guide me

Caught an isolated calcarous area in the armoricain massif (schistics)

-Cheeks non hairy
-hairs on facial ridge
-3+3 katersternal setae
-Prosternum hairy
-4+4 post Dc
-fist post sutural prealar longer than last notapleural
-Eyes hairy and arista bare.
-orbital setae proclinates
-three bigest setae on humeral callus in triangle
-apical scutellar setae are not crossed
-Medial tibia: 4 ad
-syntergite 1+2: 1 marginal pair of setae
-marginal and mediaml discal setae on T3 and T4
-2 hairs of same length on radiocubital node.


clovis : France : Mauges-sur-Loire : 49570 : 14/06/2022
Altitude : NR - Taille : 12 mm
Réf. : 315380

clovis : France : Mauges-sur-Loire : 49570 : 14/06/2022
Altitude : NR - Taille : 12 mm
Réf. : 315376


clovis : France : Mauges-sur-Loire : 49570 : 14/06/2022
Altitude : NR - Taille : 12 mm
Réf. : 315377


clovis : France : Mauges-sur-Loire : 49570 : 14/06/2022
Altitude : NR - Taille : 12 mm
Réf. : 315378

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Try keying it with straight humeral setae.

When the North American key splits on the basis of humeral setae it adds: "if middle basal bristle forming an apparent angle with outer and inner basal bristles, this angle at least 160°; middle basal bristle usually medial to a line between outer basal and outer anterior bristles".

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Looks like a candidate Bothria.
Let’s see if you can make that happen :)

Theo

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:o Now I know why the specimen looked familar! A species I already know!!!

You are both perfetly right of course!
John pointed out the question I was wrong in the central europe key (and then, it is straight to Bothria!)
And in Tachinidae.eu, I justed cliqued on the wrong button at the hairs on radio cubital node...:S


So Bothria frontosa it is, many thaks to you both for the help! :D

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Great ! Karma one up again :)

I am not sure about the altitude, but 14th of June is extremely late for frontosa,
.

Theo

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My area is quite flat (but place of capture is quite hight for the department, with 55m hight^^) and the place of capture is quite warm (some southern species there).
Central Tachinidae key has only two species (frontosa and subalpina). And fauna europaea mention only those two species for Europe. Is there other possibilities?

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No, no other options, but subalpina would make more sense.
Frontosa is black and silvery surprising resembling Panzeria puparum, subalpina is nearly completely greyish dusted.

Theo

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Another poorly named species?

I have to admit I ruled out, maybe to quickly, B subalpina on the wide space between eyes, about 1,3* an eye (and also on name...). Dusting are on half of the tergite.
But other character are not so clear: face looks sligtly convex.



clovis : France : Mauges-sur-Loire : 49290 : 14/06/2022
Altitude : 39 m - Taille : 12 mm
Réf. : 315592

clovis : France : Mauges-sur-Loire : 49290 : 14/06/2022
Altitude : 39 m - Taille : 12 mm
Réf. : 315593

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It is, indeed, B. frontosa.
As said, pattern on abdomen is totally different, you can check for yourself.

Extremely late individual, at your latitude it should be active mid March - Beginning of April.


Theo

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:o My apologies, I noted wrongly when uploading the pictures, you are totaly right, this specimen was caught much earlier: 14/04/2022!!!

Many thanks for you help, and sorry for this mistake!

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Well, nearly in the period I’d predicted. All clear !

Theo