Thread subject: Diptera.info :: Trachysiphonella ruficeps/scutellata < Chloropids in Centaurea

Posted by Carnifex on 19-11-2022 14:37
#1
In flower head of Centaurea stoebe, Vienna, early July

inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/211700747/large.jpeg
inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/211700681/large.jpeg
inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/244053440/large.jpeg
Edited by Carnifex on 19-11-2022 15:12

Posted by von Tschirnhaus on 19-11-2022 14:53
#2
Chloropidae, Oscinellinae, Trachysiphonella ruficeps (Macquart, 1835) or T. scutellata (von Roser, 1840). These two species are extremely difficult to distinguish. Published colour differences are not helpful features, both species are very variable including the length of their proboscis and the depth of their gena. Well known pollinators which ingest also repellent haemolymph of Heteroptera and other insects caught as victims of spider and insect predators. Read several post on this genus in diptera.info

Posted by Carnifex on 19-11-2022 15:12
#3
Great to get such an ID despite the low resolution.
I could find that species in numbers on a crab spider predating a mirid:
https://diptera.i...d_id=95795
Edited by Carnifex on 19-11-2022 15:12