Unidentifies predator fly at Bempton June 2010

[brianholland]

I have had a stab at identifying this fly which was photographed at Bempton on the cliff top.

Looking at it on the web I think I may have got it wrong although it does look like a predator but not a robber fly as I at first thought.

I would be most grateful if someone could identify this insect please.

My wife Margaret as always takes the photographs this time using just a Canon G9.

Brian.

[Geoff F]

Your suggestion of Empis tessellata looks quite possible to me, although I'm certainly not an expert on this subject and there are a few similar species.

The middle and hind legs do appear a bit on the dark side, but I'm assuming this is just a shadow effect.

[brianholland]

Originally Posted by Geoff F

Your suggestion of Empis tessellata looks quite possible to me, although I'm certainly not an expert on this subject and there are a few similar species.

The middle and hind legs do appear a bit on the dark side, but I'm assuming this is just a shadow effect.

Geoff, thanks for taking the trouble to respond and to suggest that my 'stab in the dark' might be correct.

Appreciated the speed of your reply.

Brian.

[JRsbugs]

I think you can safely say this is Empis tessellata. The legs can be quite dark, the wings are typically bronze. It's a male.

Janet

[brianholland]

Originally Posted by JRsbugs

I think you can safely say this is Empis tessellata. The legs can be quite dark, the wings are typically bronze. It's a male.

Janet

Hi Janet,
Wow what a response with the added information that it is a male. I am truly impressed. Thank you so much.

Can you help with the last two I have uploaded to the forum to which I have again had a go at identifying. My wife is the person with the camera.

One was a grasshopper and the other a bug.

Many thanks,

Brian.,

[JRsbugs]

Brian, the bug I feel sure is Miridae Stenotus binotatus, one I got on the wall at night last year. They are variable.



I haven't checked out the grasshopper, might take a look later but others might be better on that.

[Jason Green]

Afternoon Brian,

Very good Brian, Leptopterna sp. it is - and either L. dolobrata or L. ferrugata depending on habitat.

Take care,

Jason

[JRsbugs]

Leptopterna dolabrata certainly does show one example which matches well. The rest are variable too. That was a hasty decision based on my own pics.

[Jason Green]

Hi Janet! I don't know how long I had compared the two, but based my final ID on the swollen first antennal segment (which on it's own seems OK to use), and then the dark marking apically on the central and hind femora, when viewed dorsally - binotatus seems to have clear hind femora.

They're confusingly similar aren't they!

[brianholland]

Originally Posted by Jason Green

Hi Janet! I don't know how long I had compared the two, but based my final ID on the swollen first antennal segment (which on it's own seems OK to use), and then the dark marking apically on the central and hind femora, when viewed dorsally - binotatus seems to have clear hind femora.

They're confusingly similar aren't they!

Now this is getting serious as you can see why a poor old novices like myself and my wife find identification of insects so difficult.

We are impressed by the depth of knowledge you show and thank you for the trouble you have taken - much apprecaited.

Can you also please have a look at the two unidentified insects that I have uploaded a grasshoper type and a bug? Thank you,

Brian.