ID for a bee/wasp/hornet/fly please

Mwyalch · #1 (**permalink**) 22-07-2007, 01:52 PM

Hello, found this on my car this morning.
I've done the usual search for it but cannot find out what it is.
Is it a bee or wasp? At first I thought it was a hornet as it's an inch and a half long but on closer inspection realised it's not

It's 'mouth' area had what I can only describe as a sticky out pointy bit! Looked like a tongue maybe?
I did try to photograph the underside but my camera died.

Thank you.

m1.carson · #2 (**permalink**) 22-07-2007, 02:10 PM

Hi,

I'd go for a hover fly, I've just had one ID'd under "devil bees" in this forum.

Max.

eucera · #3 (**permalink**) 22-07-2007, 02:47 PM

Its a horsefly (Diptera: Tabanidae)

Cazzie · #4 (**permalink**) 22-07-2007, 07:38 PM

Ooo! They bite!!!!

bugbotherer · #5 (**permalink**) 22-07-2007, 07:50 PM

Plain smokey wings and yellow triangles on the abdomen, with dark tarsi (feet) and eye facets that look the same size, suggest the pale giant horsefly Tabanus bovinus

Mwyalch · #6 (**permalink**) 23-07-2007, 07:36 AM

Thanks for your replies!
At first I was slightly disappointed that it was a plain old horsefly but I've never seen a fly look this 'pretty'

Gill Catton · #7 (**permalink**) 26-07-2007, 09:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mwyalch

Thanks for your replies!
At first I was slightly disappointed that it was a plain old horsefly but I've never seen a fly look this 'pretty'

I have fairly recently discovered that there are lots of horsefly species, and they are actualy quite interesting when you start reading about them some of them are HUGE!!!

one of the recognised survey methods apparently is to park a hot car (preferably dark in colour) in full sunshine in a likely area and leave a door open this attracts mostly female flies apparently!

aeshna5 · #8 (**permalink**) 27-07-2007, 04:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gill Catton

I have fairly recently discovered that there are lots of horsefly species, and they are actualy quite interesting when you start reading about them some of them are HUGE!!!

one of the recognised survey methods apparently is to park a hot car (preferably dark in colour) in full sunshine in a likely area and leave a door open this attracts mostly female flies apparently!

Interesting- I hadn't heard of that. Don't know that I'd want to attract the females though- they are the vicious biters! How about attracting the gentle non-biting males?

Seriously, I wonder if the females are attracted into the car by the carbon dioxide released by the car's occupants?

Despite my dislike for their bites, some species have amazing, jewel-like eyes!

Wild-Woman · #9 (**permalink**) 27-07-2007, 05:20 AM

Mmm. Good thread. I like learning something new. I've just had a look at the NBN Gateway to have a look at the distribution maps for this fly.
I've come to the conclusion that it's either pretty rare or not very well recorded. I'd like ideas on this.
Do you think that because of their reputation for biting us-they are not a 'popular' insect therefore somewhat disregarded?

Jules

eucera · #10 (**permalink**) 27-07-2007, 08:22 AM

The following information comes from Alan Stubbs & Matin Drake's great work "British Soldierflies and their Allies" (BENHS). They state that 30 species of Horsefly are definitely recorded in UK

Tabanus bovinus is one of 8 members of the genus Tabanus found here, and is a very variable species. Females are apparently impossible to separate from T. sudeticus. The species seems to be a great rarity, with only a small handful of confirmed records, and none for many a year.

This would seem to cast some doubt on the correct identification of the specimen in the photograph.