Bibionid male for ID if poss

[Dillybythesea]

I took John's advice and nipped out in sunny moments looking for yesterday's mating pair, and was rewarded! Only the male, but swaying on a frond of the same cordyline as yesterday. Still rubbish shots but hopefully a bit more detail. I'll start with one pic using the onboard flash, the rest without. Any help much appreciated!

[Jason Green]

I'd rather have a look at an actual specimen to determine it though with these if you could catch one! I have a few of mine from last year to look at, so I'll have another look at your photographs afterwards and hopefully be a little more in-tune.

[Dillybythesea]

Still can't quite do that - pathetic I know! But would be grateful for any assistance your own specimens suggest! ATB Rhona

[Anomalous]

It's a Dilophus male, with a clear circlet of small spines at the apical end of the front tibiae. Bibio lack the row of spines and have a single large spine and a smaller spur, instead.

There are four species possible, but I would not want to go further without a specimen.

Ian

[Dillybythesea]

Many thanks for Dilophus Ian! And the info on why! I'm grateful - Rhona

[Jason Green]

Originally Posted by Dillybythesea

Still can't quite do that - pathetic I know! But would be grateful for any assistance your own specimens suggest! ATB Rhona

After a brief interluding period I got down to work. I now have a sexual-pair of both Dilophus febrilis and D. femoratus, and a single male humeralis.

That work done, I'm afraid your photographs are still inconclusive! Try and get both a dorsal and lateral view of a female tomorrow and we'll try to seperate the two species-groups so at least you know what it isn't.

[Dillybythesea]

Thank you for your help Jason. I did try today, but, even though we had quite a bit of sunshine, caught no sign of either male or female. Harrumph.

But I'll keep trying. ATB, Rhona