Posted by sd on 15-05-2022 17:50
#1
Pandelleia sexpunctata (Tachinidae) female
France, Haute-Pyrenees, Barege
4th August 2016. Altitude 1 725m
Using Mesnil's 1975 key, very wide frons and strong spots on T2, this is
P. sexpunctata rather than the other Western European species
P. otiorrynchi
The specimen was collected a few years ago but quickly became greasy. Some work with solvent has mostly restored it for these current photos.
As sometimes happens, a lucky first sweep on steep grazed hillside with low juniper yielded this lovely
Pandelleia. As also sometimes happens, another hour's sweeping trying for another provided for nothing other than a very tired arm! There were plentiful large black weevils feeding on thistles which may well have been the target host.
Steve