Posted by Cor Zonneveld on 05-08-2007 17:05
#1
In Tessin (close to the village Mavaglia; altitude approx 1400 m; date July 17, 2007)) I saw a couple of Villa's, shown here. The question is whether they can be IDed.
The first one I saw around 12 o'clock, at the exposed flank of a small mountain road. They were very restless; they sat for only a few seconds, mostly too short to approach them and take a photograph. This is the only one I could get. I interpreted their behaviour as territorial behaviour, so the specimen on the first photograph should be a male.
When I returned to the same spot a couple of hours later, I saw another Villa, easily approachable. It was licking stones or dirt, and showed no sign of territorial behaviour. On basis of this behaviour, I expect it to be the female. My hunch is that they belong to the same species.
Edited by Cor Zonneveld on 05-08-2007 17:09
Posted by Sundew on 06-08-2007 00:24
#4
The female is very similar to a
Villa hottentotta that I photographed some weeks ago. I have never seen a male, but compare http://fauneflore06.site.voila.fr/images/insecte/diptere/pvilla2.jpg
that shows a mating couple.
V. hottentotta is said to occur from North Africa to Middle Europe.
Sundew