Some more 'Norn Iron' Insects

jdoherty · #1 (**permalink**) 08-06-2006, 05:30 PM

Can anyone help ID these pics which were taken in Northern Ireland. The first three pics were taken in an overgrown area near the River Burn, which flows through the village of Burnside, County Antrim. The third pic also contains a second almost invisible 'insect' which is really well camouflaged. The fourth pic was taken in April 05, in the docklands area of Belfast. This is a closeup of one of a pair of identical flies which were hiding under a large stone. The fifth and last insect was taken at Hydepark in County Antrim.

Laurence Clemons · #2 (**permalink**) 09-06-2006, 08:13 AM

The first is a species of Helina (Diptera, Muscidae), the second a species of Phaonia (Diptera, Muscidae), the third is the St. Mark's Fly Bibio marci (Diptera, Bibionidae), the fourth a teneral (freshly emerged) bluebottle Calliphora sp. (Diptera, Calliphoridae) and the fifth a Yellow Dung Fly Scathophaga stercoraria (Diptera, Scathophagidae) which has been parasitised by an entomophilous fungus. I may be able to name the Helina and Phaonia when I have looked in my reference collection. At present I am on 'non-contact time' at work.

jdoherty · #3 (**permalink**) 09-06-2006, 08:16 AM

Wonderful. Many thanks for all the IDs and your time and effort.

jdoherty · #4 (**permalink**) 09-06-2006, 08:18 AM

PS Any idea what the little 'camouflaged' beestie is on the leaf above the St Marks fly?

Laurence Clemons · #5 (**permalink**) 09-06-2006, 08:26 AM

An aphid.

jdoherty · #6 (**permalink**) 09-06-2006, 09:30 AM

Thanks.

Imaginos · #7 (**permalink**) 09-06-2006, 10:42 AM

The Bibio is far to small for marci, it is B. anglicus. The aphid is probably Metopolophium dirhodum

jdoherty · #8 (**permalink**) 09-06-2006, 04:22 PM

I have posted another photo of insect 3 above to help clarify the ID. I have also posted a second pic of a black fly which I thought was a St Mark's Fly but is seems different to the insect pictured in number three eg it has smaller eyes etc. Can anyone clarify which is which?

Imaginos · #9 (**permalink**) 10-06-2006, 10:54 AM

The only Bibio known to occur in N. Ireland in 1985 (the date of my key) is clavipes, it is not this species as the stigma (marking on the wing) is too dark. The known distribution of Bibionidae in N. Ireland is probably more indicitive of recording effort rather than what species actually occur.
Bibio marci can be ruled out for a number of reasons, the most important being that the basal section of R4+5 is roughly equal to r-m; in other words, the short dark cross-vein in front of the stigma is about the same length as the vein running at 45 degrees to it running towards the centre of the wing (I hope that's clear, describing venation is difficult without a diagram).
Having seen the close-ups I've changed my mind about it being anglicus, the first fly is a male Bibio leucopterus, which is known from Killarney-it has the milky-white wings of that species and the spur and spine combination on the front tibia look roughly equal, which is diagnostic. The second is a female Bibio, although I can't see a couple of features, it does fit leucopterus, were they photographed at similar times?

jdoherty · #10 (**permalink**) 10-06-2006, 07:44 PM

The last two photographs which I posted above were taken on June 4th 2006 in an overgrown area which runs alongside a river which flows through the village of Burnside in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. Photo 3 (with aphid above) was taken on 31st May 2006 at the same location. It is quite common in this area and I have photographed similar versions of these two insects on several occasions.