And Another Species of Knapweed Gall Fly

On the same stand of knapweed that I have, in the past month, seen Urophora jaceana and Urophora stylata, we now have Urophora quadrifasciata (Diptera: Tephritidae).

The number and variety of Tephritidae this year has been quite spectacular, at least compared with last year.  But, unfortunately, the stand of knapweed in the Wilderness has now been mown, so it might be a while before I come across any more new species there.

Photos taken in the Wilderness, Whiteknights Park, Reading University grounds, Reading, UK, on 2010-07-06.

Anthomyiid Flies

On a recent walk I came across two of these small flies competing for the highest leaves on a bush in a woodland clearing.  Initially I thought they might be Muscid flies based on their wing venation but at diptera.info Joke van Erkelens identified them as Anthomyiid flies of genus Pegomya (Diptera: Muscidae).  Of the photos at diptera.info, the most similar is Pegomya pulchripes, but I am not going to claim that as an identification; there are lots of Pegomya species.

Photos taken in the Wilderness, Whiteknights Park, Reading University grounds, Reading, UK, on 2010-07-07.

Spider Wasp

A spider wasp, probably a Priocnemis sp. (Hymenoptera: Pompilidae).  These wasps hunt spiders which they paralyze and then place beside their eggs in a burrow as a food supply.

Photo taken in Whiteknights Park, Reading University grounds, Reading, UK, on 2010-05-30.

Yet another Species of Knapweed Gall Fly

On the same clump of knapweed as the Urophora jaceana from ten days earlier, but here the pattern on the wings is slightly different so I think this one is probably Urophora stylata (Diptera: Tephritidae).

Photos taken in the Wilderness, Whiteknights Park, Reading University grounds, Reading, UK, on 2010-06-25.

Small Black Fly

From a few weeks ago: small black fly, probably a Calliopum sp. (Diptera: Lauxaniidae).  On an oak leaf.

Photo taken in Whiteknights Park, Reading University grounds, Reading, UK, on 2010-06-19.