A fly and a beetle for I.D., if possible please

stephenplant · #1 (**permalink**) 11-12-2009, 10:09 PM

Hello all, I have just uploaded two images, one of a dark copper coloured beetle, the image is here : Unidentified - Wild About Britain Pics

The other is a fly which I think is a Tachinid sp., but if someone can confirm and possibly say which species I'd be grateful. The image is here :
Unidentified - Wild About Britain Pics

Thanks,

Steve :-)

Jason Green · #2 (**permalink**) 11-12-2009, 10:15 PM

Good evening Steven,

Your beetle is a Ground Beetle (...Carabidae family) - and the round shape of the pronotum makes me think an Amara sp., which is common in gardens. I had one confirmed as that recently. Others will go further, I'm sure.

Your fly is certainly in the Tach group in my opinion - maybe Rhinophoridae? Not too sure on that - 'ChrisR' should be able to point you in the right direction for this one

Take care,

Jason

ChrisR · #3 (**permalink**) 12-12-2009, 07:53 AM

I've replied to Stephen via email but the fly looks like an anthomyiid to me - there's no subscutellum and the abdomen is a bit skinny

Rossco · #4 (**permalink**) 12-12-2009, 11:47 AM

As Jason says, the beetle is a carabid - an Amara spp. Probably the common one, but there are lots of species in this genus and they're difficult to identify, even when you have the specimen.