Thread subject: Diptera.info :: > Dysmachus trigonus
Posted by nick upton on 14-10-2013 13:25
#1
Can anyone help ID this Asilid. Using a key www.robberflies.info/keyger/htmle/keymachimus.html#1 seems to lead to M. rusticus, but it was on heathland, not downland which is typical for rusticus, so I doubt it can be this. I can provide close crops of most key views I think if needed!
c 15mm 21.7.13 Studland heath, Dorset, UK. Several seen hunting from sandy paths through heather covered coastal dunes, and mating.
Edited by nick upton on 31-10-2013 14:53
Posted by nick upton on 14-10-2013 13:26
#2
mating pair profile
Posted by nick upton on 14-10-2013 13:27
#3
mating pair top view
Posted by nick upton on 16-10-2013 21:08
#4
I now think this may be Eutolmus rufibarbis - quite similar in appearance to M. rusticus, which prefers heathland and is known from the site I photographed it at.
Posted by jaho on 16-10-2013 22:16
#5
Not
Eutolmus, but
Dysmachus species.
Posted by nick upton on 16-10-2013 22:34
#6
Many thanks Jaho. The differences between the Asilinae genera are clearly too subtle for me! Dysmachus trigonus is recorded for this location and is another heathland robberfly, so it may be this.
Posted by Quaedfliegh on 31-10-2013 02:29
#7
Dysmachus trigonus is right!
Posted by jaho on 31-10-2013 10:21
#8
I was also considering
trigonus species, but the beard is so much different and I got confused.
Posted by nick upton on 31-10-2013 11:17
#9
Many thanks Reinoud for confirming the ID on this heathland robberfly.
Posted by Quaedfliegh on 31-10-2013 14:26
#10
The species is very common in the Netherlands. We recently made an interactive guide for the species of the Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark and the British isles. Text is in Dutch. http://waarneming.nl/download/fotogidsAsilidae.pdf Maybe later there will be an English translation.
All comments are welcome. (we've got some doubt about M. setibarbis and M. caliginosus for texts and keys are a bit conflicting)
Posted by nick upton on 31-10-2013 14:55
#11
The guide looks excellent, and an English translation would be very useful!
I'd not seen D. trigonus before, but there are no heathland habitats near my home and such places have become rare in the UK. There were lots around at this site on the south coast though, which is full of rare species for the UK.
Posted by jaho on 31-10-2013 18:34
#12
Now I wish I knew Dutch... Awesome work Reinoud! It's really uplifting to see a new, comprehensive study on European
Asilidae. I wish you to keep up the good work on this beautiful creatures and to think of making it more accessible for others.
As I wrote before, my doubts were the result of the hair composition in the male's beard. The black hair are only situated on the bottom of the beard whereas usually they are mixed with the white ones in its upper part.
Once again - congratulations! |t