Thread subject: Diptera.info :: Tachina fera (male)

Posted by eklans on 16-04-2022 10:41
#7

Hello Hans Theo, the width of the frons may overlap what makes it non-reliable as the only criterion for ID. And T. magnicornis is quite similar but happens to appear at the same places/same time.
These are criteria from the Tschorsnig & Herting key (1994) and the translation of Rayner, Raper (2001) to aid in deciding between female/male and fera/magnicornis:

T. fera:
Frons in males 0.68 - 1.08x, in females 0.94 - 1.28x as wide as one eye.
Fore tarsus yellow, seldom brown.
The black longitudinal abdominal stripe ends almost always in a tip on tergite 5.
Males: anterior claws almost as long as the last 2 tarsal segments combined;
frons as a rule without oe (outer orbital bristles), seldom 1 oe present

T. magnicornis:
Frons in males 1.10 - 1.39x, in females 1.27 - 1.55x as wide as one eye.
Fore tarsus brown or black.
Males: anterior claws clearly shorter than the last 2 tarsal segments combined;
frons with 1 or 2 oe