Posted by pierred on 05-07-2006 18:36
#1
Hello,
I'm trying to do some progress and I think this is a Tachinid. But What should I look at?
Thanks in advance for any clue.
Posted by ChrisR on 05-07-2006 18:56
#4
.. and maybe super-wrong too ... when did you see this fly? Could actually be
Mintho rufiventris.
Posted by ChrisR on 06-07-2006 20:47
#8
Hi Pierre, the two choices were
Eriothrix rufomaculata, which has just started flying here... and
Mintho rufivetris, which has been around for a month already. Both species are black with red patches on the abdomen, some grey dusting, some wing shading and a large costal spine.
Mintho is distinctive when seen in real-life because the abdomen is laterally compressed - it is taller than it is wide - but that isn't always obvious from photos.
Eriothrix has a strongly protruding mouth edge but, again it depends on the angle of the photo :) However,
Mintho has quite a characteristic pattern of stripes on the thorax caused by the dusting (2 black lines, 3 grey) - different from
Eriothrix (5 grey lines, 2 wide black & 2 narrow black).
So, with the pattern of lines on the thorax; the not very protruding mouth edge; and the shape, colour, dusting and bristles on the abdomen... I'd say "
Mintho rufiventris" :D
But, after all that someone will probably say I am wrong!! ;)