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Hi flyforum



* locality - Silgueiros - Viseu - PORTUGAL
* date - 2007.08.16
* size - 5 mm
* habitat - openland
* substrate - Mentha sp. flower


I testified two great moments. I saw twice two conopids piercing two wasps very quickly. In less 1 second. Moreover, the wasps/bees were feeding on Mentha flower, so piercing can be done even with wasps/bees feeding not just during the flight. The wasp and the bee tried to respond immediately, but it seems that conopid got the wasp... I could catch just one wasp. (i will photograph it more later. ) If I recall well Zodion spp. attacked the bee. The other conopid that I will show more later attacked the wasp, if I'm not wrong. There were plenty of bees/wasps/flies (tachinids flying very near ground as well).

I saw many conopids around. I think that is Myopa sp. but not M. picta neither M. occulta.
What called my attention were two things: thorax striped, and tergites (in anterior part) are spotted with black dots. The proboscis is not so long as it happens with M. picta. it pointed almost above antennas. I will give you more photos more later and some more info about the fly.



i suggest that you take a look here to see it bigger:
http://www.flickr...142&size=o


then:



to see it bigger:
http://www.flickr...479&size=l

more images, more later. (I have lateral, dorsal and posterior views of this fly.)


EDIT---> Title changed from "grey conopid - Myopa sp. - not picta neither occulta " to "grey conopid - Zodion sp." then "Zodion sp. Perhaps Z. cinereum?" then to "Conopidae - Zodion cf. cinereum?" to "Conopidae - Zodion cinereum"

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dorsal view

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I think it is a Zodion, not a Myopa. The proboscis is not folded back.

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and you must have reason. Chris told me that if this was in UK it would be a Zodion sp.
Ok. For now I will change for Zodion sp.

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According to Van Veen's key :

"1.a. Legs blackish, femora partly pale; anus black; antennae black or 3rd segment reddish -> 2

1.b Legs reddish; anus red; antennae red -> 3

2.a. Antennae black; wing: cell R closed far before wing border. 4-5 mm. NL, B, D -> Zodion notatum Meigen

2.b. Antennae partly reddish; wing: cell R closed near wing border or just open. 4.5-9 mm. NL, B, D -> Zodion cinereum Fabricius

3.a. Abdomen with depressed dots, greyish dusted; wing: cell R open. 7.5-8 mm. D. -> Zodion carceli Robineau-Desvoidy

3.b. Abdomen without depressed dots, reddish or yellowish; wing: cell R closed. 6-9 mm. Middle and Southern Europe. -> Zodion erythrurum Rondani
Literature"

This must be Zodion cinereum. Do you agree?

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another shot:

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dorsal view. Look at the rear face.

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see u in next thread.
just for one more artistic shot of Zodion sp.

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antero-lateral view

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another shot

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and for last photo to see extremity of abdomen.

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Cell R closed very near wing border (look 3rd image). Antennas are partially red.. Anus black.
Very strong probability to be Z. cinereum. What do you think?

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Great Photos Jorge. I have never seen Zodion, so it is good to see what they look like.

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According to David Clements, the ID confirms. Zodion cinereum.