[ID] Robberfly: The rare Paritamus geniculatus?

[Jason Green]

Hi all,

Suddenly I have gained the motivation from somewhere to re-do my website - replacing all 150 pages with a better-laid out template, before re-writing all with more info, images and filling-in missing IDs. I have just been finishing off the Robberfly page - and came across a potential rarity?

June 2009

Robberfly - Machimus cingulatus, or rarer Paritamus geniculatus?
...one with and without flash. I hope it's clear enough!

I was happy to call it Machimus cingulatus, but saw another photo of an RF with a well-matching colour order on the tarsi, called Paritamus geniculatus. Apparently it prefers light, sandy soils, and I found my individual in a grassland situation.

So, M. cingulatus - or rare P. geniculatus?

Thanks for reading!

Take care,

Jason

[lync]

What is this Paritamus, Jason? I don't think anyone's heart of it

[Jason Green]

Hi Lync,

Thanks. Well, I hadn't, either! I was looking at Garden Safari, and came across it. See here:

Family Page: Robber Flies, Stiletto Flies and Dance Flies

Species Page: Picture Page about the robber fly Paritamus geniculatus

...only superficial similarities and alas no specimen, but it looks to my eyes similar to my individual. Given how there is barely a mention of it online I thought I'd post it. If you say P. geniculatus isn't even an accepted name I'll obviously forget it

[charlieb]

Originally Posted by Jason Green

I was looking at Garden Safari, and came across it.

Where on Garden Safari does it say all species are British?

[Jason Claxton]

A good book though Jason,that covers the Robberflies is :-British Soldierflies and their Allies by Alan Stubbs and Martin Drake,published by BENHS.

[Jason Green]

Originally Posted by charlieb

Where on Garden Safari does it say all species are British?

I did wonder, but saw this...

Below to the left Paritamus geniculatus, a less striking species. Is known to be rather rare, but that might be due to the fact it leads a very inconspicuous life. The species is only found on light sandy soils. Can be found in both Europe and the Near and Middle East, but it appears not to be numerous anywhere. Below to the right yet another, but rather similar species. The areal of this species is enormous. It lives not only in Europe and Turkey, but in Nortern Asia and Japan as well. On the British Isles though it is a very rare and endangered species. Well, my British friends: you can come to my garden and collect a few anytime. Robber Flies are not very afraid of people and therefor often easily photographed. Eutolmus rufibarbis usually attacks big prey: frequently even bigger than they are themselves, like Damsel Flies. Apparently Dragon Flies are a little too fast for him.

...maybe a mistake though?

[charlieb]

Below to the left Paritamus geniculatus, a less striking species. Is known to be rather rare, but that might be due to the fact it leads a very inconspicuous life. The species is only found on light sandy soils. Can be found in both Europe and the Near and Middle East, but it appears not to be numerous anywhere. Below to the right yet another, but rather similar species. The areal of this species is enormous. It lives not only in Europe and Turkey, but in Nortern Asia and Japan as well. On the British Isles though it is a very rare and endangered species. Well, my British friends: you can come to my garden and collect a few anytime. Robber Flies are not very afraid of people and therefor often easily photographed. Eutolmus rufibarbis usually attacks big prey: frequently even bigger than they are themselves, like Damsel Flies. Apparently Dragon Flies are a little too fast for him.

[Jason Green]

Originally Posted by charlieb