Posted by Chris on 28-07-2017 22:00
#1
Saw this strange Fly with vivid white eyes today, 28th July 2017, at a sandy spot in a large garden, N Germany.
Any IDea?
Thanks!
Chris
Posted by Juergen Peters on 29-07-2017 02:58
#3
Hello,
and the eyes are dark red! The white spots on the frons play a role in mating, only the males own them.
Posted by Chris on 29-07-2017 07:22
#4
Metopia argyrocephala - thanks, Tony and Jürgen.
@ Jürgen: Yes of course it's not the eyes themselves that are white, but spots between the eyes.
Looking now for more info on Metopia argyrocephala I read that it parasites different species of hole-digging Apidae and Sphecidae. Which fits perfectly, as I found it sitting in a sandy area with lots of Sphecidae & their holes around...
Very interesting - thanks!
Chris