Picture-winged fly

[Bruce Williams]

Stockgrove Country Park, Beds. 26th December. On fence separating coniferous planting from meadow.

Took Maggy for long walk this afternoon. Plenty of insect life about including several of these picture-winged flies. Quite a coincidence I thought as my last forum posting was about a similar fly photographed in my garden earlier in the year (April) see: Fly with gold-green eyes and mottles wings

Comparing the wings with the April fly, this December fly has much darker wing markings. I don't know if that means a different species or just that the species is quite variable?



Here's the 3rd April one again:


Bruce

[Jason Green]

Evening Bruce,

- you saw a, Tephritid fly, today?! I'll have to have a look tomorrow, we're forecast about 7' at mid-day. I didn't know they over-wintered as adults, or at least put in winter appearances! Very interesting, what else was about?

It looks like Tephritis vespertina to me, but I'll leave it to Oxycera to confirm or other. The main differences being the distribution of the wing's markings - here they are heavier as you say, and for me the tips are more filled-in with more specific clear spaces that for me rule in or out, other possibilities.

Take care,

Jason

[oxycera]

Certainly another species; I can't confirm Jason's suggestion (maybe Lawrence Clemons could) but it's as good a guess as you could make given the the lack of wing detail, in my opinion.

[Bruce Williams]

Jason and John - Thanks for your help with this one. I saw (and photographed) three individuals of this species and one of a different species (much lighter wing pattern). I think I may have a dorsal of this dark winged type that I can post when I have a bit more time later today.

There really was a lot of insect/spider/harvestman life around including many different flies (photographed 5 or 6 species), a couple of wasps, several bugs (including 2 Hawthorn Shield Bugs), a couple of different leafhoppers and at least two species of psyllids.....plus a lot of other stuff - including of course the ubiquitous female winter moths.

Bruce

[Jenny W]

I had two Tephritid flies in one of my moth traps about two weeks ago. They flew off before I could take a specimen I'm afraid, but I've been meaning to look up winter flying/overwintering species.

[Jason Green]

I'll look forward to the additional images Bruce, and let us know what you find out, Jenny!

[Bruce Williams]

Jenny - That is so frustrating isn't it! I've had so many insects fly off just seconds before I was about to take the shot......Uggggh!

Here's the dorsal I promised. I can confirm that it's the same individual as the original post.



Bruce

[Jason Green]

Thanks Bruce. Still looks a little like vespertina to me so over to you then, John!

[Jenny W]

Originally Posted by Jason Green

let us know what you find out, Jenny!

Will do Jason, I need to get in touch with one of our reserve volunteers who's really into his Diptera.

Originally Posted by Bruce Williams

That is so frustrating isn't it! I've had so many insects fly off just seconds before I was about to take the shot......Uggggh!

Tell me about it! Especially on a freezing cold morning in the middle of December - you'd think everything would be too cold to fly that fast!!

[oxycera]

Looks like Jason had it right all along; well done sir.