Thread subject: Diptera.info :: Black Tachinidae
Posted by lynkos on 13-06-2007 07:40
#1
Another fly photographed a few days ago in the countryside near Rome, about 6 mm long. A Tachinidae I presume, but which? Thanks, Sarah.
Posted by ChrisR on 13-06-2007 09:38
#2
If it was flying in England I'd say it was
Nyctia halterata (Sarcophagidae) :)
Posted by lynkos on 13-06-2007 11:15
#3
Sarcophagidae??? Just shows how much I've learnt :(.
Nyctia halterata is indicated as present in my area, so may well be it! Thanks, Sarah.
Edited by lynkos on 13-06-2007 11:16
Posted by ChrisR on 13-06-2007 11:31
#4
Well, it is an odd sarcophagid but the dark leading edge of the wing is pretty characteristic I think. A few rhinophorids have shaded parts of the wing, but not like that - and one or two tachinids have some wing colour but they have it in different areas and also would have different venation. I'm not sure if there are alternatives to
Nyctia halterata in Italy but it is a very common fly here in England :)
Posted by lynkos on 13-06-2007 11:54
#5
I've done some research and it appears that
N. halterata is the only one of the genus in Italy, so looks pretty conclusive. Thanks again, Sarah.
Posted by Liekele Sijstermans on 14-06-2007 22:09
#6
In southern Europe a second species of Nyctia has to be taken in account: Nyctia lugubris (Macquart) (ref. Pape, 1996). It has for example been recorded for Sicily, mostly regarded as a part of Italy (with exception of some northern italians).
Nevertheless, this specimen is Nyctia halterata after all.
As - to my knowledge - all other hitherto shown pictures of Nyctia on diptera.info.
Liekele
Posted by lynkos on 15-06-2007 05:11
#7
Thanks Liekele. There are in fact a great many differences between the flora and fauna of Sicily (and Sardinia) and mainland Italy, Sarah.