Pale Rhingia campestris or R. rostrata?

[Geoff F]

In a small S. Devon coastal wood.



This resembles R. rostrata except that there is a hint of black on the hind tibia. Which I suspect makes this a particularly poorly marked R. campestris, but I would welcome any second opinions.

[JRsbugs]

Hmm, interesting! I missed this.

R. rostrata should have more reddish legs, and I can see why you are confused. I have had R. campestris but not rostrata.

It does look more like Rhingia rostrata to me, there does appear to be some black on the hind leg on that pic too.

I don't know if there's any other differences though.

Janet

[Dogghound]

This is R. rostrata. Another detail is that R. rostrata has continuous orange sides to the abdomen. In R.campestris the abdomen sides are black in some cases are black lines.

[Geoff F]

Thanks for that.

Yes there isn't any black at all on the abdomen edge and I can't even see black hairs.

But as far as I am aware there has only been one other record in Devon which was on the southern edge of Dartmoor about 20 miles away. So that made me extremely sceptical.

[Dogghound]

It is increasing in range in Britain although its still quite scarce. Is there any woodland about? Ive no doubt its R. rostrata.

[Geoff F]

Yes it was in a smallish wood near the estuary entrance. Originally oak but now well overgrown with mixed deciduous trees and brambles etc on the floor. But with patches of sunny areas close to the path.

This one was close to the path, for just enough time to take one quick shot.

R. campestris is quite common here. Plus a good selection of others including Portevinia (earlier in the season) and from time to time, Dasysyrphus, Eupeodes, Platycheirus all with several species, plus several more frequently found species, like Xylota segnis, Scaeva pyrastri, Leucozona glaucia and a single Brachypalpoides lentus.

In fact I photographed 14 different species on that day.