The Society for the study of flies (Diptera)
Affiliated to the British Entomological and Natural History Society (BENHS)
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#1 2009-04-18 00:53:40
- Syrpher
- DF Members
- Name: Steve Covey
- From: Wiltshire
- Registered: 2008-11-28
- Posts: 7
Bombylius canescens or minor?
Hi all,
while reviewing some shots I took during a Dorset holiday in August 2004 I came across a bee-fly I'd labelled as B. canescens at the time. This was purely on habitat - I'd taken the shot on the cliff path midway between Studland village and Old Harry rocks which is chalk grassland. I didn't have 'British Soldierflies' at that time but looking at it now I'm more convinced it's actually B. minor. A reply from someone on diptera.info has reinforced my belief but to be sure I would like a third opinion if possible. The photo is at:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/15121707@N00/3448299694/
Out of interest, I recorded B. discolor in my back garden on Easter Monday for the first time ever - photo also on my Flickr photostream.
TIA.
Steve Covey.
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#2 2009-04-24 17:24:26
- adamwright
- DF Members
- Name: Adam Wright
- Registered: 2009-02-12
- Posts: 22
Re: Bombylius canescens or minor?
Hi Steve
This looks more like minor than canescens to me. The hairs on the sides of the abdomen tend to look longer in proportion to body width and more consistently greyish in canescens, which is not the case in your photo. The date is also past the flight peak for canescens, but does not rule it out completely. Shame the photo doesn't show the head's hairs to give a definite id.
Adam.
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