Entries by Tristram Brelstaff (3025)

Monday
Nov212011

Red Slime Mould

A slime mould growing on a recently felled tree.  I have no ideas of the species. [Note added 2013-12-26: probably an Arcyria sp.]

Photo taken in the Wilderness, Whiteknights Park, Reading University grounds, Reading, UK, on 2011-11-17.

Sunday
Nov202011

Green Tachinid Fly

From 2 years ago: Tachinid fly Gymnocheta viridis (Diptera: Tachinidae).  I had assumed that my first sighting of this species was this one in May 2010 but I recently came across these photos from 2009 which I had previously taken to be of Lucilia sp.

Photos taken in Whiteknights Park, Reading University grounds, Reading, UK, on 2009-04-24.

Saturday
Nov192011

Dolichopodid Flies

Again from 2 years ago, a small fly with large antennae: probably a male Rhaphium sp. (Diptera: Dolichopodidae).  There are quite a few species of this genus on the UK checklist and in only a few do the males have these large antennae, one of these being Rhaphium calignosum.  The females have normal-sized antennae.

A few days later I caught another one in mid-flight:

Photos taken in Whiteknights Park, Reading University grounds, Reading, UK, on 2009-04-26 and 2009-05-01, respectively.

Friday
Nov182011

Soldier Fly

Another soldier fly from 2 years ago: this time probably a female Beris vallata (Diptera: Stratiomyidae).

Photo taken in Whiteknights Park, Reading University grounds, Reading, UK, on 2009-06-07.

Thursday
Nov172011

Soldier Fly

From 2 years ago: a male soldier fly, probably a Beris chalybata (Diptera: Stratiomyidae).  The females of this species have a metallic green thorax, smaller eyes, and lack the swollen first tarsi on the hind legs.

Photo taken in Whiteknights Park, Reading University grounds, Reading, UK, on 2009-04-26.