Fly id please

[cycler]

Hi,

Took this photo in September by the Lancaster canal, would like to know what type of insect this is.
Thanks
Keith

[ChrisR]

It's a muscid fly (relative of the houseflies) but I can't say much more than that. You need a muscid expert so try http://diptera.info/

[Jason Green]

Hi Keith, and a warm welcome to WAB!

Yes, I agree with Chris - likely a Muscidae member. It may be a Helina sp.

Are you familiar with Latin names and biological classification?

Take care,

Jason

[cycler]

Thank you for the replies Chris & Jason.

Jason,
I have come across the latin names and classification in birds, am I correct to assume that it works in a similar way with insects?

Regards
Keith

[Jason Green]

Hi Keith,

Yes, pretty much! I can't think of many birds where you'd refer to it's Latin name as preference over the common; but with insects, most of us on the Invert board will use the Latin as there are far more insects - most lack a reliable, universely-agreed vernacular...

Take the Buff-tailed Bumblebee for one. The Latin for it is Bombus terrestris. If you find a similar-looking Bumble but can't quite match it to an existing bee that you know of, say the photo doesn't show the back end enough - call it a Bombus sp. The 'Sp.' bit means 'A species of', and just shows that you aren't certain because essential features aren't visible.

Now consider other insects. To resolve an ID to the full two-part, Genus species name, you may need to look at a fly under a microscope - this is especially true of flies in the Calliphoridae family to name but one. Obviously not everyone have micros, so this is when you have to settle for something like Lucilia sp.! Don't get me wrong though, there are hundreds you can get to the full two-part name with good photos

Ever heard of Ichneumon wasps? I believe there are about 7,000 species of them in the UK alone, and most barr the distinctive ones require microscopic examination using 'Keys'. On here, we can usually get it down to sub-family.

Stick with WAB and feel free to ask anything!