Barkfly Blaste quadrimaculata?

JRsbugs · #1 (**permalink**) 07-10-2009, 12:07 PM

Hi,

This looks to have the same markings as Jason's, colour a little brighter but all seems to fit.

Taken on 2nd July 2009. It was running up the wall which has lime mortar, a suitable habitat. It was very small, perhaps 2mm or less.

I was lucky to see this as it was above my head and was soon too high to see properly, perhaps they are not as rare as thought due to the small size and lack of observation by most.

What do you all think?

Janet

Jason Green · #2 (**permalink**) 07-10-2009, 12:25 PM

Hi Janet,

Not sure. Mine was around 4-5mm - one of the bigger ones I've seen, and darker as you say. Both ours are female. Do you have an exact side-on?

The markings look good though, despite the size difference so I'll go for a maybe here. It could be teneral

JRsbugs · #3 (**permalink**) 07-10-2009, 12:42 PM

Hi Jason,

No more shots, as said it was running fast and already well above my head. The markings do match well I agree, the stripy blob on the face can be seen on your pic posted on your Barkfly thread.

The pics will enlarge more to get a slightly better look. I actually tried to do a measurement by measuring the brick gap, it's a little wider than the standard 1/4" at that point but no more than 8 or 9mm, I could get a ladder up to get a better mesurement but I know it was no more than 2mm. Even if I take it as a 10mm gap it comes out at 1.66mm!

4-5mm seems long for a barkfly, I haven't had any more than 3mm unless you are taking the wings into account but that still wouldn't make mine that length, 2mm max. with wings I think from what I viewed and the measurements I calculated.