---

Hello, is species ID possible? pluvialis?
Thanks, Marion
Pictures were taken in Germany, Saxony, 12th July 2009

---

2nd picture

---

3rd picture

---

It is the male, so it might well be H. pluvialis. See also http://www.fotoco...y/28507846.

---

I am not convinced this is pluvialis - I can't see that antennal notch, eyes don't look correct, and I have not seen one this dark before,


Mark

---

Thank you.
This is my first male Haematopota. Usually I meet only the female ones.
According to Fauna Europaea the following 7 species should exist in Germany.
Haematopota bigoti Gobert 1880
Haematopota crassicornis Wahlberg 1848
Haematopota grandis Meigen 1820
Haematopota italica Meigen 1804
Haematopota pluvialis (Linnaeus 1758)
Haematopota scutellata (Olsufjev, Moucha & Chvala 1964)
Haematopota subcylindrica Pandelle 1883
I did not expect so many species. Can some of them be excluded?
Marion

---

The antennal notch is said to be typical only for females of H. pluvialis. However, as I am no Tabanid expert, I only can compile the knowledge from former threads as well as other websites. We can summarize:
H. bigoti and H. grandis are coastal species (http://www.dipter...pid=105045), so not probably showing up in Saxony.
H. subcylindrica has extensively dusted first antennal segments and light grey wings (http://72.44.83.9...;pid=11478). This does not well match here.
H. crassicornis has entirely black antennae, males of H. pluvialis have an orange third antennal segment (http://www.nature...orned-cleg, http://www.nature...orned-cleg). However, that orange is not always conspicuous (http://www.dipter...pid=101194).
H. scutellata is a typical mountain species and has a light spot at the scutellum (http://www.dipter...pid=146453).
H. italica males are very whitish with pinkish femora (http://www.dipter...pid=101194).
The very nice Tabanid photos on
http://flickrhivemind.net/Tags/haematopota,tabanidae/Interesting
may serve for comparison.
As there is some dusting on the lower third of the first antennal segment, H. pluvialis (and H. subcylindrica) are still under consideration. However, Theo Zeegers’ skill is needed to confirm that…
Regards, Sundew

---

Thank you Sundew for the nice overview which allows to exclude most of the species. I attach an enlarged view of the antenna and will wait for Theo Zeegers´ confirmation.
Best regards,
Marion

---

The antenna is all black, the first segment dusted only on basal quarter and there is a buch of yellow hairs on vertex present: all pointing in one direction:

Haematopota crassicornis


Theo

---

Thank you for ID, Theo. :)
Regards,
Marion