Posted by PhilC on 05-09-2020 23:31
#1
This small (c.5mm), female tachinid was found in a building on a nature reserve in south Essex, England on 27th July 2018. The surrounding area is mainly freshwater grazing marsh with some scrub and grassland.
I have keyed it out as
Bactromyia aurulenta using both Belshaw and Tschorsnig & Herting. It also comes out as
Bactromyia if I run it through MOSCHweb. All the characters seem to agree with that species except that the scutellar apicals do not appear to be raised as mentioned in couplet 226 of T&S.
As this is the first time I have come across the species I would be glad of a second opinion. It seems to be uncommon in Britain.
Edited by PhilC on 05-09-2020 23:35
Posted by Zeegers on 06-09-2020 07:35
#5
Yes, general colouration and wing venation look good for B. aurulenta. The apical scutellars should indeed be erect, but sometimes only by 30 degrees. And / or maybe you accidentally adpressed them while pinning.
Theo