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Can anyone confirm my tentative ID for this pretty hover as Ferdinandea cuprea and if so, how can one be sure it is not F. ruficornis, the other rarer UK species?

9th Sept 2010 c10mm Wiltshire garden, UK

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Profile view

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I found this old thread http://www.diptera.info/forum/viewthread.php?thread_id=33392 in which some evidence that F cuprea consistently has a few dark hairs at the posterior end of femur 2 , while ruficornis doesn't. The latter is described as having a duller and darker abdomen. On both counts I think that makes my flies F. cuprea but would still welcome confirmation and any other tips on separating the two.

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Another fly, side view

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Hi Nick,

Yes, if the arista is black as it appears - F. ruficornis is pretty rare (the only other option). I find the three black seta on the apice of the mid-femora as you show a good hint too.

I think there's a better-publicised thing about the abdomen, but I'm not sure off-hand.

Take care,

Jason

EDIT: Separation of cuprea/ruficornis - cuprea has black aristae, ruficornis' are orange.

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Hi Jason, many thanks for yOur inPut on this. YEs, the arista looks black - certainly much darker than the rest of the antenna and i alway assume I'm seeing relatively common species rather than rare ones unless there's really good evidence for the latter, so think i can put this down as F. cuprea not ruficornis, unless anyone else disagrees!

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Yes, F. cuprea :)

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Yes, F. cuprea :)

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OK, many thanks for the double confirmation!