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Please help me identify this shiny fly with orange side/ventral abdomen, photographed on 18 Sept in Ipswich, East Suffolk, UK, feeding on Mint flowers in my garden.

Best wishes,
Martin

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Stomorhina lunata (Calliphoridae)

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Thanks Tony.
Am I right in thinking that this is male specimen?

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Hi Martin,
Yes, this is the male (orange side patches). Nice record -its a parasite of locust eggs, so its regarded as a late Summer migrant in the UK. (Though there is discussion whether it can also use grasshopper eggs)
regards, Steve

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Thanks Steve,
Interestingly I found a locust nymph in the park next door last year!
It was thought to be an escapee...

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I have received some interesting information about this species from Dr Meenakshi Bharti who is an entomologist working in India on on Calliphoridae from North-west Himalaya. Dr Bharti reported in the Facebook Diptera group that this species also feed on ants broods and larviposits in the ant nests. She has collected a lot from Himalayas. As this was the first time I have seen reference to this, I though it might be of wider interest...

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Hi Martincito

This is 99,9 % certain incorrect and due to a misidentification: she is referring to other Rhiiini. If there is material available, I am happy to review it.

Theo

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This may be relevant to the association between ants and Stomorhina lunata...
http://link.sprin...016-0480-4

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i wisely left 0.1 % open for doubt ..... Which I can niw use !

Theo

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:)