Thread subject: Diptera.info :: Tephritis sp. ?
Posted by Northwinds on 16-04-2006 11:12
#1
This little fly was found in Limburg, the Netherlands ,in early April.
Can anyone id it for me?
Thanks,
Peter
Posted by John Smit on 19-04-2006 12:08
#2
Hi Peter,
Tephritis neesii.
Cheers,
John
Posted by Northwinds on 20-04-2006 17:16
#3
Thanks John!
I compared it with an illustration in a guide I have and it is a perfect match.
Only that guide mentions a flying period from July-September.
This picture was taken in April :o
Peter
Posted by Jan Willem on 20-04-2006 18:51
#4
Hi Peter,
I collected a specimen which I identified as
Tephritis neesii last monday (Tilburg, The Netherlands)! According to Merz (1994, Insecta Helvitica Fauna 10; Diptera, Tephritidae; page 73) the flying period would be April-begin Juli. That may be the flight period for Switzerland. However I learned from John that he also found a specimen of
T. neesii in early April.
Jan Willem
Posted by Paul Beuk on 20-04-2006 20:02
#5
I also have a recollectionof having collected the species 'late winter - early spring'. Need to check if I have any definite records on file, though.
Posted by Northwinds on 21-04-2006 07:57
#6
Jan Willem wrote:
Hi Peter,
I collected a specimen which I identified as Tephritis neesii last monday (Tilburg, The Netherlands)! According to Merz (1994, Insecta Helvitica Fauna 10; Diptera, Tephritidae; page 73) the flying period would be April-begin Juli. That may be the flight period for Switzerland. However I learned from John that he also found a specimen of T. neesii in early April.
Jan Willem
Hi Jan Willem, my flying period information of July-September comes from Kabos/Van Aartsen (1984 Wet.Med KNNV De Nederlandse Boorvliegen (Tephritidae) en Prachtvliegen (Otitidae))
It describes T. neesii as very rare for the Netherlands with sofar (in 1984) only 4 caught specimen.
I suspect that since then the species has become more abundant and more accurate information has become available.
Peter
Posted by Jan Willem on 21-04-2006 12:09
#7
Hi Peter,
According to John Smit the species is not rare in The Netherlands, but less abundant than you would expect taking the host plant (
Leucanthemum vulgare) in consideration. At least the information in Kabos & van Aartsen (1984) is outdated!
Jan Willem
Posted by John Smit on 21-04-2006 12:58
#8
Hi all,
From several
Tephritis species we now know that they hibernate trough winter. Last year I had a female
T. formosa on January 6th!
In 1984 there were only two people looking at these intruiging flies, nowadays there are probably two more people looking at Tephritids in the Netherlands. Thus increasing our knowledge considerably. Though I must confess that most of the knowledge comes from Berhanrd Merz in Switzerland.
Best wishes,
John