Thread subject: Diptera.info :: Scathophagidae - genus? = Scathophaga stercoraria male
Posted by johnes81 on 18-11-2017 13:24
#1
Berlin - August
2014
I have no experience with this family. I'm seeking a genus atleast but a species will be nice. I only have a few photos.
I didn't know anything about cameras and photography back in 2014. I had a cheap compact camera with the offensive digital zoom feature. I tried to figure out how to make nicer photos and someone suggested a bridge camera. I went out for some photos and this was perched on a flower. The photos are better than the compact camera but they still look bad.
Thank You.
Edited by johnes81 on 18-11-2017 14:41
Posted by Tony Irwin on 18-11-2017 14:28
#2
Scathophaga stercoraria male
Posted by johnes81 on 18-11-2017 14:40
#3
once again, you have a species level id. You are amazing! I have no experience with this family, so this is good to know. Plus, I haven't seen it since 2014. The weather is awful since 2014. Insects seem to be disappearing. Very concerning to me...
Posted by Juergen Peters on 19-11-2017 00:22
#4
Hello,
johnes81 wrote:
Plus, I haven't seen it since 2014.
really?
Scathophaga stercoraria is one of the most abundant flies here, especially now in the colder season. The photos below are from yesterday, one female at our housewall, one on a meadow, and a male nearby with some prey. But there were many more around.
They are easy to identify, because of the yellowish to olive colour and because they are the only
Scathophaga here with dark antennae. I have also taken pictures of another
Scathophaga species yesterday, but those I will have to post here, I cannot identify them myself reliably.
Posted by johnes81 on 19-11-2017 11:48
#5
nice to know that you find them just yesterday. Berlin politics is a nightmare. I tell you the politicians here care nothing about nature. I live near a small public park and the insects are declining each year since 2014. I've complained a few times now to the local government but nothing changes for the better. I could write a book about this situation, so I'll keep it short. The other places that I visit do not have Scathophagidae around (grassland, heathland, forest.) I only see Scathophagidae in the parks and gardens. I haven't visited the park since September, so maybe a few are around.
I haven't spent any time looking at Scathophagidae. I've never tried to identify them. I have no idea what they look like until now. I've seen them around and I've made photos of them before but I've never investigated this family.
Posted by Juergen Peters on 20-11-2017 01:40
#6
Hello,
johnes81 wrote:
the insects are declining each year since 2014. I've complained a few times now to the local government but nothing changes for the better.
the same here at the border of a small town. I see insects decline much longer, but in the past few years the farmers use every small edge of their acres to grow even more colza or corn destroying even the smallest habitat for wild flowers and insects. It's a shame... :@