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 tachinids in love - Linnaemya cf. picta?
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| Sundew |
Posted on 07-06-2012 20:47
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 Member Location: Posts: 3890 Joined: 28.07.07 |
Hi, Today I saw this happy couple on a house wall. Using all my modest experience, I would call them Linnaemya tesselans, the only Linnaemya species Theo said to be expected here. I often took photos of this fly but obviously met only females up to now, as I never recognized that there are red abdomen parts. This male is reddish, however, and in the internet I found pictures that show the same colouration. A confirmation of the name would be fine, as I am still far from being a Tachinid expert (what a luck we have some excellent in this forum!). Many thanks, Sundew Edited by Sundew on 25-06-2012 11:21 |
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| Sundew |
Posted on 07-06-2012 20:48
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Member Location: Posts: 3890 Joined: 28.07.07 |
Another pic. |
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| Sundew |
Posted on 07-06-2012 20:48
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Member Location: Posts: 3890 Joined: 28.07.07 |
The heads. |
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| ChrisR |
Posted on 08-06-2012 08:37
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 Administrator Location: Posts: 7699 Joined: 12.07.04 |
Certainly Linnaemya but hard to say more without specimens. L. tessellans is confirmed by seeing white hairs on sternite 1 ... the other species require checking out the size/distribution of the black bristles on the back of the head. Others might be able to say whether it looks right for tessellans though, from long experience of the alternatives 
Edited by ChrisR on 08-06-2012 08:38 Manager of the UK Species Inventory in the Angela Marmont Centre for UK Biodiversity at the Natural History Museum, London. |
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| Sundew |
Posted on 08-06-2012 19:53
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Member Location: Posts: 3890 Joined: 28.07.07 |
Well, in the following pic a bit of sternite one of the female is seen laterally, but it is difficult to say even in high magnification whether there are white hairs or if it is just a matter of light...
Edited by Sundew on 08-06-2012 19:54 |
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| ChrisR |
Posted on 08-06-2012 22:50
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Administrator Location: Posts: 7699 Joined: 12.07.04 |
Well, sternite 3 or 4 is visible ... but sternite 1 is a tiny sliver of chitin at the base of the abdomen ... very hard to see, even with a specimen.
Manager of the UK Species Inventory in the Angela Marmont Centre for UK Biodiversity at the Natural History Museum, London. |
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| Zeegers |
Posted on 09-06-2012 10:27
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Member Location: Posts: 18446 Joined: 21.07.04 |
Need to check this. First impression is that it is NOT tessellans. Theo |
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| Sundew |
Posted on 10-06-2012 11:40
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Member Location: Posts: 3890 Joined: 28.07.07 |
Sorry for the sternite 1 - if it is so tiny, we have to turn the flies upside down... However, Theo doubts L. tesselans, so I add another magnification of the female head. Perhaps the bristles on its back might be seen and be helpful to an expert. If not, then let it be Linnaemyia spec., you did a great work already. Many thanks! |
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| Sundew |
Posted on 21-06-2012 22:17
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Member Location: Posts: 3890 Joined: 28.07.07 |
What is the result of your check, Theo? |
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| Jaakko |
Posted on 22-06-2012 13:03
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 Member Location: Posts: 479 Joined: 04.08.08 |
I´d wote for picta. Quite frequent early summer this year. |
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| sd |
Posted on 22-06-2012 16:05
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Member Location: Posts: 892 Joined: 11.10.07 |
Me too. Pale humerus, bristles below the eyes, mouth strongly pulled forward and narrow dark frons suggest picta I think. Only seen one here so far this year - season is a few weeks later than last year. Steve |
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| Sundew |
Posted on 25-06-2012 11:16
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Member Location: Posts: 3890 Joined: 28.07.07 |
Many thanks to both of you! The reddish tibiae fit well, too. What about the magnifications of the head shots - do the bristles give no hints? As L. picta is still missing in the gallery, I'd like to supply some pictures. Should I better add a "cf." to be on the safe side without a caught specimen?
Edited by Sundew on 25-06-2012 11:17 |
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but don't see the image in the post.