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Frons wide, fore tarsus black, black abdominal stripe widens on tergite 5, is it Tachina magnicornis ? (Spa, Belgium, 02-08-2005)
I've read in the book of J. and H. Haupt that the frons and occiput are principally grey in T.magnicornis when the occiput is yellow in T.fera. I don't see that feature in the keys. Is it correct ?

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-1) This is, indeed, a male of magnicornis
-2) I'm not familiar with the book by Haupt and Haupt
-3) the feature mentioned is generally true, but there are many exceptions. As with nearly all features between fera and magnicornis


Theo

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Thanks a lot Theo

On those photos, how do you see that it is a male?

As it is a male, when the key give the feature of anterior claws (red arrow) clearly shorter than the last 2 tarsal segments combined. Could you tell me where are the 5th tarsal segment (blue arrow ?) and the 4th segment (black arrow ?).

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The fact that the claws are long, shows it must be male.

Your arrows are correct. The feature itself is unreliable.

It is magnicornis, simply because it is a male (see above) with broad vertex. Fera always has narrow vertex in the male sex.


Theo