Is this a bee, wasp or fly?

agrumpycow · #1 (**permalink**) 23-08-2009, 03:19 PM

Or am I being silly and not seeing something common & obvious

I really can't remember seeing anything like it before, it's the markings that are throwing me out. About 10 mm in length and on heather on heathland in west Berkshire this afternoon. Can anyone help?

aeshna5 · #2 (**permalink**) 23-08-2009, 03:22 PM

It's a tachinid fly- Tachina fera which parasitises Lepidoptera larvae. Saw quite a few of these today on Water Mint at Kew; they also like some of the umbels such as Wild parsnip + Angelica.

agrumpycow · #3 (**permalink**) 23-08-2009, 03:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aeshna5

It's a tachinid fly- Tachina fera which parasitises Lepidoptera larvae. Saw quite a few of these today on Water Mint at Kew; they also like some of the umbels such as Wild parsnip + Angelica.

Thanks for the quick reply! One I haven't seen before so that's good