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Posted by marcela58 on 23-09-2019 17:23

Collected from degraded heathland near Bracknell (Berkshire, UK) on 12th Sept 2019. I'm unfamiliar with this genus (the British species are from Scotland and I'm in the southeast!). Wing length is c. 4.5mm. Could it be Chamaesyrphus lusitanicus? Apologies for the 'iPhone through the microscope' images - hopefully they are good enough for id.
Thanks, Marcel

Posted by Iain MacGowan on 23-09-2019 18:35

I think the Plecocera species in southern England is P. tricincta

Posted by helge on 23-09-2019 21:46

Iain MacGowan wrote:
I think the Plecocera species in southern England is P. tricincta

You are right Iain!

Posted by Ectemnius on 24-09-2019 00:37

Hello Marcel, Helge, & Iain,
Identification based on lacality is not adviseable. Seeing the shape of the head it looks indeed to be a Pelecocera (Chamaesyrphus). The darkened tarsi and dusted lunulae would point to P. luscitanicus. The dusted lunulae exclude P. scaevoides. The shape of the third antennalsegment en the thin arista, implanted before the curved tip of the third antennal segment exclude P. tricincta.
Kind regards,
Ectemnius

Edited by Ectemnius on 24-09-2019 00:40

Posted by Ectemnius on 24-09-2019 00:42

Euh, looking at the checklist: (http://www.dipter...CKLIST.pdf) That would be new for Great Britain. Checking Sander Bot & Frank van de Meutter Veldgids Zweefvliegen and my collection I would say I'm sure based on these photo's.
Dusted lunulae, shape of third antennal segment and arista and the black stripe on the face.
Very nice find!

Posted by marcela58 on 24-09-2019 17:36

Hello Ectemnius,
Thanks very much for the positive ID. Very exciting news! I was aware that lusitanicus wasn’t on the British list but everything I looked at seemed to point it and, as we’ve been getting a lot of new arrivals over the last 12 months (though mostly Heteroptera it seems), I thought some Continental friends ought to take a look at it.
Thanks again Ectemnius, and to everyone else for your input.
Best regards,
Marcel