Entries by Tristram Brelstaff (3025)

Thursday
May172012

Hoverfly

A male Brachyopa sp, probably either Brachyopa scutellaris or Brachyopa pilosa (Diptera: Syrphidae).

Photos taken in the Wilderness, Whiteknights Park, Reading University grounds, Reading, UK, on 2012-05-11.

Wednesday
May162012

Muscid Flies

A female Eudasyphora cyanella (Diptera: Muscidae).  I have just noticed that the females in this species tend to have blue abdomens.  The following photo, taken a month later, shows this more clearly:

In males the abdomen tends to have the same bronzy-green colour as the thorax.

Photos taken in the field below Chazey Wood, near Caversham, UK, on 2012-04-13 and 2012-05-13, respectively.

Tuesday
May152012

Big-Nosed Hoverfly

A female Rhingia campestris (Diptera: Syrphidae).  Rhingia rostrata is similar but with no black markings along the side of the abdomen.

Photo taken in the field below Chazey Wood, near Caversham, UK, on 2012-05-13.

Monday
May142012

Muscid Fly

A female Musca autumnalis (Diptera: Muscidae).  The males are quite different (see here and here).

A view from the front:

And from the side:

Musca domestica females are similar but have a much broader black band between the eyes on top of the head and the sides of the abdomen are pale orange.

Photos taken in the Wilderness, Whiteknights Park, Reading University grounds, Reading, UK, on 2012-05-11.

Sunday
May132012

Beetle

Leaf beetle Chrysolina polita (Diptera: Chrysomelidae).

Photos taken in the field below Chazey Wood, near Caversham, UK, on 2012-05-08.