Any ideas?

[The Black Rabbit]

Found this beauty sunbathing on the back gate at lunch time.

Please click on the thumbnail and then the image to sharpen it up a wee bit.
(Sorry John!)





Any ideas?

Ta.

Doug

[Laurence Clemons]

It is a female dolichopodid fly - somewhere around Orthoceratium lacustre
/Liancalus virens.

[The Black Rabbit]

Thanks!

[The Black Rabbit]

Originally Posted by Laurence Clemons

It is a female dolichopodid fly - somewhere around Orthoceratium lacustre
/Liancalus virens.

Would these (other) photographs help Laurence, or would I have to get all microscopic about this?!

(Once again, please click on thumbnail and THEN the image).





After a little research I'm getting to like this type of fly!
Not only is the fly above very beautiful (in my opinion!) but the Dolichopodid flies are quite interesting.
I hear one (not this species, but a dolichopdid fly nonetheless), 45m y.o.fossiled example (in amber) was/is used as research for super-efficient solar panels. The fly's eye has an anti-reflective coating, so the fly can see in low light levels, and this is what the scientists are interested in for these solar panels - to increase efficiency.

I also hear one particularly bandy-legged dolichopodid fly was scientifically named Campsicnemius charliechaplini Evenhuis, after the similarly bandy-legged silent comic.
Reminds me of the Trilobite named after Marilyn Monroe!

I've also noted Laurence you are somewhat noteable on the web regarding these little beauties.
Are those two "facts" regarding different species of the "thick headed flies" correct?
And do these other photographs aid a narrowing of identification?
Probably not!!!
But thanks anyway.

Doug

[oxycera]

Likely to be Liancalus, I would have thought; usually found on wet rock faces, by waterfalls etc.

[Laurence Clemons]

I agree with Oxycera - most likely Liancalus virens. I have only found the latter a couple of times both by waterfalls. Orthoceratium lacustre is altogether a more uniform green species without the stripes on the thorax and bands on the abdomen. I have never heard of the Campsicnemus charleychaplini - it is not a British species but you are right in that the group is, morphologically, very interesting. Check out the male legs of Campsicnemus magius.

[The Black Rabbit]

Many thanks to both of you. It seems, after more research that it certainly is a female Liancalus virens, as you say, often found near wet rock faces, fast moving streams or waterfalls.
Must have got a wee bit lost to end up in our dry back garden in Reading, unless it flew over from the weir over a mile away, to have a snoop around...

I did check out t'other dolichopodid fly you mentioned Laurence. Very nice! The "Fancy-legged" fly eh?!

Many thanks again people.
Doug