Diptera.info

Posted by Stephen R on 08-08-2011 21:10

17mm, Clitheroe UK, 8 August 2011.

Can't give the exact size, but bumblebee size - [EDIT: size established at 17mm from photos taken on 9 August]. The plant is Golden Rod (Solidago canadense I think).

This seems to be a female T. grossa; am I right, and should I be finding this in Lancashire?

Edited by Stephen R on 15-08-2011 23:11

Posted by jorgemotalmeida on 08-08-2011 21:24

I love these beasts.
If dark calypter -> Tachina grossa. Most likely. :)

Posted by Stephen R on 08-08-2011 21:30

Thanks Jorge. I think part of the calypter shows next to the alula, and it looks dark.

Posted by jorgemotalmeida on 08-08-2011 21:35

Stephen R wrote:
Thanks Jorge. I think part of the calypter shows next to the alula, and it looks dark.

that's right.
Must be a Tachina grossa.
I found them at 1200 m in Rubus leaf always challenging me and almost "smiling" as it was like saying: "you don't catch me!"... and then all ends well.. with the fly in my net. :)

Edited by jorgemotalmeida on 08-08-2011 22:35

Posted by Stephen R on 08-08-2011 21:38

Fortunately for this one, I only had a camera :D

Posted by ChrisR on 08-08-2011 21:41

It has to be T.grossa here in the UK (and the calyptrae are clearly black) - we do not have T.magna ;) Nice photo :)

Posted by jorgemotalmeida on 08-08-2011 21:44

and fortunately for you... you don't have Tachinidae lovers as your neighbours... it is not good to feel their revenge without having the specimen. :)

Posted by ChrisR on 08-08-2011 21:48

They're cropping up fairly frequently at the moment - I seem to get a few emails every week from people (often non-entomologists) who have seen them in their gardens or in the countryside :)

Posted by Stephen R on 08-08-2011 21:49

#10

:D You'll never find me here! (That was for Jorge.)

Edited by Stephen R on 08-08-2011 21:51

Posted by jorgemotalmeida on 08-08-2011 22:22

#11

Chris, I feel sorry that you do not have Tachina magna in UK. :)
If I found some, I promise, at least, one T. magna specimen for you.

Stephen... Clitheroe is a small town and civil parish in the Borough of Ribble Valley... must be very easy to find you. :)

Edited by jorgemotalmeida on 08-08-2011 22:23

Posted by Stephen R on 15-08-2011 22:55

#13

Now I have my reward for not killing this splendid beast. It has stayed for more than a week, and since it discovered the Sedum spectabile has been very easy to find. Today I found we have two females, and of course I have been looking out for a male. Then I saw this 10.5mm fly trying to mount a big female.

Posted by Stephen R on 15-08-2011 22:58

#15

And here are male and female for the size comparison.

Posted by Stephen R on 15-08-2011 23:10

#17

Damn! I thought it wasn't getting far with the girl. Now I see from the Gallery that the male looks much more like the female. I'll keep looking :D

Edited by Stephen R on 15-08-2011 23:20

Posted by neprisikiski on 16-08-2011 01:35

#18

Yes, it looks like Eurithia anthophila.

Posted by Stephen R on 16-08-2011 10:36

#19

Thanks Erikas and Stephane. At least I have a new species for my local list - and I'll get over the embarrassment eventually :S

Edited by Stephen R on 16-08-2011 10:43