NaturePlus: Possible longlegged fly?

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5435 Views 11 Replies Last post: Jun 21, 2010 6:28 PM by Pete

Pete

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Jun 6, 2010 6:50 PM

Possible longlegged fly?

I took this beside the River Stour in Dorset a couple of weeks ago. I think it may be a longlegged fly but I am not sure. Would be great if anyone knows for certain what this was? It was very big for a fly and looked quite mean

Thanks in advance

Pete

Clive Washington

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Jun 6, 2010 7:14 PM (in response to Pete)
Re: Possible longlegged fly?

That's a robber-fly, one of the Asilidae. There are about 30 British species - an expert should be able to get closer. I'm not an expert but I recognised it because one turned up in my sweep net last week.

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- Pete
  
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  Jun 6, 2010 7:30 PM (in response to Clive Washington)
  Re: Possible longlegged fly?
  
  Wow that was quick thank you Chris
  
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- jaguarondi
  
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  Jun 6, 2010 7:38 PM (in response to Clive Washington)
  Re: Possible longlegged fly?
  
  Are you sure it's not an Empis sp. (Empididae)?
  
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  - bombuslucorum - Museum ID team
    
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    Jun 6, 2010 8:31 PM (in response to jaguarondi)
    Re: Possible longlegged fly?
    
    Sure is a an empid - wouldn't like to id it from a photo though, there are more than 200 UK species.
    
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    - Clive Washington
      
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      Jun 6, 2010 9:04 PM (in response to bombuslucorum - Museum ID team)
      Re: Possible longlegged fly?
      
      I thought Asilid because it was described as a large fly, is it possible to tell from this photo wether it's Empid or Asilid?
      
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      - Pete
        
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        Jun 7, 2010 6:48 PM (in response to Clive Washington)
        Re: Possible longlegged fly?
        
        Thanks to every one. As you say having looked on a few sites it is difficult to say for certain. It was big, approx 15-20mm, that why I thought it might have been a long legged fly.
        
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      - bombuslucorum - Museum ID team
        
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        Jun 7, 2010 8:31 PM (in response to Clive Washington)
        Re: Possible longlegged fly?
        
        Well I think so - asilids have short beak-like mouthparts, whereas empids have a long snipe-like mouthparts as in this image. My money is still on an empid. Empis tessalata would not be far off the mark.
        
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        Clive Washington
        
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        Jun 8, 2010 12:31 AM (in response to bombuslucorum - Museum ID team)
        Re: Possible longlegged fly?
        
        Colyer and Hammond describe empids as having 'spherical heads' which certainly looks right from the picture. Initially I hadn't spotted the very long proboscis.
        
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        Pete
        
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        Jun 8, 2010 6:46 PM (in response to Clive Washington)
        Re: Possible longlegged fly?
        
        Thanks again to all and having looked at a picture on wild about britain of the Empis Tessalata, it looks a very close match.
        
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        Paul Beuk
        
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        Jun 21, 2010 9:01 AM (in response to Pete)
        Re: Possible longlegged fly?
        
        It IS Empis tessellata, and as it is in my group of specialty I should know.
        
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        Pete
        
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        Jun 21, 2010 6:28 PM (in response to Paul Beuk)
        Re: Possible longlegged fly?
        
        Great. Thanks for confirming Paul
        
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Jun 6, 2010 6:50 PM

Possible longlegged fly?

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