Thread subject: Diptera.info :: Tachinid, Sarcophagidae or what?

Posted by Gateside on 12-06-2023 10:18
#1

I am not asking for a complete identification to species level, though that would be nice. (I am attempting to assess the general invertebrate biodiversity on a nature reserve, so it does not have to be exact to species).
But this one puzzles me. It has markings typical of a Sarcophagidae, but the bristles on the abdomen are inconsistent with that - it looks more like a Tachinid.
The head is very odd, with a face that projects forward like a rostrum, and the eyes are attached to the sides, which makes it look odd (to me).
I tried a UK forum but got no comments at all.
Typical Sarcophagidae size - around 10 mm body length.
Location: Coastal sand dunes, Cumbria, UK

Edited by Gateside on 12-06-2023 10:22

Posted by Gateside on 12-06-2023 10:20
#2

This is the head, magnified a bit.

Nigel.

Posted by Jan Maca on 13-06-2023 15:24
#3

Sarcophagidae, difficult (at least to me) to be identified more closely.

Posted by Gateside on 13-06-2023 21:30
#4

Thanks Jan. I agree. i had already decided it wasn't a Tachinid.
I've looked again at Steven Falk's collection of Sarcophagidae, and see there is a genus Brachicoma, which has a single species in the UK. He says about this "A small holarctic genus of medium-sized to large sarcophagids that look a bit like Sarcophaga but with a more box-shaped head, pubescent rather than plumose aristae, and a bare hind surface to the hind coxae. The larvae are predators of the larvae and pupae of bumblebees and social wasps. Represented in Britain by B. devia, a widespread and frequent species."
The head shape looks right for a female. All the other features look okay - nothing to say it's wrong. I don't think anything else has a head shape like this.

The web link is https://www.flickr.com/photos/63075200@N07/collections/72157717896930411/
I think this is it! Smile

Edited by Gateside on 13-06-2023 21:31