 Trichopoda (Tachinidae)
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| conopid |
Posted on 06-08-2007 21:59
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 Member Location: Posts: 1039 Joined: 02.07.04 |
Presumably these are both Trichopoda pennipes? One has orange abdomen and the other black. Both on flowers of Mentha. Nebian, Herault, France, July 2007.
Edited by conopid on 06-08-2007 22:02 Nigel Jones, Shrewsbury, United Kingdom |
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| conopid |
Posted on 06-08-2007 22:00
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Member Location: Posts: 1039 Joined: 02.07.04 |
and 2:
Edited by conopid on 06-08-2007 22:00 Nigel Jones, Shrewsbury, United Kingdom |
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| Zeegers |
Posted on 07-08-2007 07:37
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Member Location: Posts: 18446 Joined: 21.07.04 |
Very good ! Neotropical species, noawadays quite common in southern France. Theo Zeegers |
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| conopid |
Posted on 07-08-2007 09:49
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Member Location: Posts: 1039 Joined: 02.07.04 |
Thanks Theo. Are the two colours male & female, and if so which is the male and which the female? It was a real thrill to see this lovely fly, but I could not get a really good photo as they are very active flies.  Nigel Nigel Jones, Shrewsbury, United Kingdom |
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| Zeegers |
Posted on 07-08-2007 19:46
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Member Location: Posts: 18446 Joined: 21.07.04 |
This species is extremely variable in colouration, this variety has nothing to do with sexual dimorphism. But I agree, it keeps surprising you. Theo |
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| Tony Irwin |
Posted on 07-08-2007 20:06
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 Member Location: Posts: 7168 Joined: 19.11.04 |
Isn't it unusual for Neotropical species to become established in France? Any idea how this happened? 
Tony ---------- Tony Irwin |
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| Zeegers |
Posted on 08-08-2007 16:55
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Member Location: Posts: 18446 Joined: 21.07.04 |
This is, actually, well known. Trichopoda is a parasitoid of Nezara viridula, a bug common on vegetables and fruit. Therefore, Nezara has got to be cosmopolitan. Trichopoda first entered Europe in the late 1960's in Italy (Genua, I believe). A probably second and independent entry occured some 10 years ago in Spain, Girona. BOth harbour places, mind you. Since then, Trichopoda has spread incredibly rapidly over Spain and the southern part of France, nowadays quite common at localities. Theo |
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| Tony Irwin |
Posted on 08-08-2007 21:59
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Member Location: Posts: 7168 Joined: 19.11.04 |
Thank for the explanation, Theo. Nezara has now been recorded in Britain - it will be interesting to see if Trichopoda follows!
Tony ---------- Tony Irwin |
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| jorgemotalmeida |
Posted on 08-08-2007 23:09
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 Member Location: Posts: 9295 Joined: 05.06.06 |
theo, do you know other examples for neotropical flies that are turning more and more common in South Europe?  (it can be other families if you know..) |
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| Zeegers |
Posted on 09-08-2007 07:49
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Member Location: Posts: 18446 Joined: 21.07.04 |
There are only a very few cases known to me: This Stratiomyiidae: Hermetia illucens, reached Europe nearly 100 years ago. in Tephritidae: several species of Rhagoletis, reached Europe recently. They have larvae either in Prunus serotina or Juglans. Maybe others can add... Theo |
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| Nikita Vikhrev |
Posted on 09-08-2007 08:12
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 Member Location: Posts: 9193 Joined: 24.05.05 |
Fannia pusio I personally collected it in Senegal Nikita Nikita Vikhrev - Zool Museum of Moscow University |
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| Nikita Vikhrev |
Posted on 09-08-2007 16:13
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Member Location: Posts: 9193 Joined: 24.05.05 |
Right today I found another example, Neotropical Hydrotaea aenescens I collected in South Turkey. Nikita Vikhrev - Zool Museum of Moscow University |
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but don't see the image in the post.