St Mark'sFly Snipe-

HiI,;o marc; Rhagi() SCO/O!hlCC£l The largest and most distinctive and con• Distinctive fly, with a wingspan of 20 spicuous of the bibionid . They have 24mm. They have long narrow abdomem, hairy black bodies, and clear wings with a marked with yellow and black, though thb brown front margin (wingspan about is not a very noticeable characteristic rn the 20mm). The males fly slowly above vegeta• field. This species has wings with brownish tion in loose swar'ms, settling readily on marbling. They usually rest head-down on flowers, leaves or- posts. posts or other support, making quick dan· Habitat Many rough unimproved habi• ing flights. tats, especially scrub, hedgerows and Habitat Damp grassy and wooded place~. woodland edges. Larvae mostly live in the Status and distribution Widespread soil. and moderately common throughout. Status and distribution Widespread Season 5-8. and common throughout. Similar species Season 4-5 (st Mark's Day is 25 April). There are several other slightly smaller' Similar species species. B. hortulanus is less hairy, more slender, and R.tringaria is similar but has clear unmarked reddish-brown. Widespread and common. wings. Widespread but local.

Soldier-fly Horse-flies, Family Tabanidae S/ra/;olll)'s clhllllClclJI1 Robust flies, usually with large, brightly The English name refers to the whole fam• coloured iridescent eyes; females are ily (Stratiomyidae), but others are less con• blood-suckers, and have powerful blade• spicuous. This species is one of the largest like mouthparts for piercing skin. (wingspan 20-23mm) with a broad ab• domen boldly marked black and yellow. Horse-fly Soldier-flies resemble some (see Tahalllls sllde/iclls p.216), but have longer antennae and more A large and fearsome-looking horse-fly, flattened bodies, and hold their wings with a wingspan of s0-60mm. The body i~ rather stiffly over the bodies, with wing• broad, brown with dull yellow markings, edges parallel. including triangles down the centre line; Habitat Fens and marshes, especially wings clear except for the front margin. with open water. Larvae are aquatic though Habitat Damp pastures, especially near some species emerge and travel some dis• woodland. tance on land before pupating. Status and distribution Widespread Status and distribution Local and but local and mainly western in the UK; southern in UK. More frequent and wide• more generally distributed on the Conti• spread on the Continent. nent. Season 5-9. Season 6-8. Similar species Similar species S. potamida is similar in size, but has unbro• T. bovinus is smaller, paler brown in colour, ken narrower yellow bands across the with paler, narrower abdominal triangles, abdomen; similar habitats and distribution. Similar habitats, especially frequent near

Odontomyia ornata is slightly smaller, with rivers and ditches; mainly southern in the the markings deeper yellow, and antennae UK. not bent in the middle (as they are in Stra• T. bromius is smaller again, dull greyish in tiomys species). Widespread but local in colour, though variable. Frequent in damp damp places. pastures, mainly southern in the UK.

210 DIPTERA Cleg Bee-fly Haematopola p/uvia/is Bomby/ius major A familiar , which settles on the skin A distinctive fly, resembling a s,".,11III, all too quietly (the larger horse-flies are bumble bee, but with a long strJII:1t1I" clearly audible!). Wingspan about 20mm; boscis at the front. Wingspan abolll JOII body dull greyish-brown, with mottled Wings have dark markings tOW,1I01. ,I wings.The females are very adept at finding front edges. The females lay egg'>•I•• people (or other ) to bite. the nests of mining bees, and tit" III Habitat Damp grassy places, woodland enter and parasitize the bee larv,,:. AoIlil clearings, and even dry grassland. feed at flowers, hovering in front "t,l,", Status and distribution Widespread Habitat Flowery, warm, unspoilt 1.1", and common throughout. such as woodland rides. Season 5-9. Status and distribution Conll""" III

Similar specie, Britain, rarer to the north; widcspl ".11 I H. crassicornis differs in having darker wings the Continent. and wholly black antennae. More frequent Season 3-6. in upland areas, in similar habitats. Similar species There are about 15 other Bombyliu,>"I". I Chrysops re/ictlls in the area, mostly smaller and/or Ic·.·.• "" Members of this of horse-flies alight man. with their wings held out at an angle form• ing a triangle, and are often not recognized Thyridanthrax fenestratus as horse-flies until they bite! Wingspan A medium-sized fly, with a Will!:'I,.II' III 20--24mm. Body dark with yellow patches; about 12-14mm. Distinctive by till, "," wings marbled with brown. spicuous dark marbling which clolld, tI, Habitat Open woodland, grassy clear• lower half of the wings. They are n:I;o1.'. II ings, usually near water. bee-flies, and behave similarly. but I",v' Status and distribution Rather uncom• short retractable proboscis. mon in the UK except in the New Forest; Habitat Dry flowery places, espc(l:dly "'I widespread but local on the Continent. sandy soils. Season 5-9. Status and distribution Local

Similar species southern in the UK; more widespr 1'.11 I III C.caecutiens has an 'X'-shaped mark on the Europe, though not common. abdomen; males have almost black Season 6-8. abdomens. Widespread and moderately Similar species , , common. There are several other very * Anthrax anthrax is more bulky, d.III.•" similar species of Chrysops, hard to separate looking, and with about three-quJrt "" ", in the field. the wing area dark. Local in dry It'''IIIt, C. piaus is similar, but has a paler abdomen places. with dark markings and marbled wings. * Villa hottentotus is slightly largcr IIt,III Uncommon, mainly southern. Thyridanthrax, but has wings clear .m "1" for the front margin. Like a less furry III"

fly with a short proboscis. Widesprcad .11101 frequent on the Continent. V.modesta is darker and less furry still. I I" nl on dunes and heaths.

212 DIPTERA Robber-flies, Family Asilidae MaciJimlls airicapifllls A smaller robber-fly, though still with rill' Powerfully built predatory flies, usually very fierce predatory appearance of the group, bristly, with dagger-like mouthparts. The Habitat Chalk and limestone grasslalld Empid Flies (Empidae) are similar in habits, and scrub. but less robust, and usually rest with the Status and distribution Local in south abdomen more raised. ern UK, more widespread on the Comi nent.

I\sillls (/'aimmi/()/,/ilis Season 6-8. A very large and impressive fly, with a body Similar species length of up to 30mm, and powerfully built. EpitriPtus cingulatus is slightly smaller, with" Body black and yellow, face heavily body length of 11-12mm (compared to bearded. Waits on a log or other perch, 12-15mm in Mach/mus), making it the and attacks prey from there. It can deal smallest robber-fly in the area. It is paler, with almost any size of insect, including more yellowish, than Machimus, with pale wasps. Larvae feed in dung. hairs on the forehead (all black in the above Habitat Open flowery places such as species). Widespread and common in downs, heaths and warm woodland glades. rough grassy and heathy places, through. Status and distribution Very local and out. On the wing through June and July. strongly southern in UK; more widespread on the Continent. Pa111jJO}[CrlfS !;crnwlliclts Season 7-10. A medium-sized robber-fly with a body length of about 18mm. Wings with brown I.apiJria (lava marbling, legs partly orange or yellow. Another large and robust robber-fly, with Habitat Most frequent in sand-dunes and a body length of up to 25mm. The body is other dry coastal habitats. broad, hairy and yellowish-brown. The flies Status and distribution Local through• rest on logs in sunny clearings, attacking out southern UK; widespread but local on passing of all types. the Continent. Habitat Woodland clearings, especially in Season 6-8. coniferous woods. Status and distribution Very rare in Diocll'ia mfipes UK, in Caledonian pinewoods only; wide• A relatively small robber-fly; body length spread throughout the Continent, though about 10mm. Rests on vegetation, and local. preys on passing Ichneumons and other Season 6-9. insects, especially Hymenopterans. Similar species Habitat Rough flowery places of various L gilva is slightly smaller and less furry. Local sorts. in deciduous woodland, rare in UK. Status and distribution Widespread L marginata is smaller and less robust than and common almost throughout. L flava, with yellowish bristly hairs on the Season 5-8. legs. Local in deciduous woodland. Similar species D. oelandico is larger, to 15mm, and differs In having darkened wings with a greenish-pur• ple sheen. It is a local species of wood mar• gins and scrub, confined to southern Britain; more widespread on the Continent.

214 DIPTERA Empis tesse/ata Hoverflies, Family Syrphidae The most frequent and noticeable of the empid flies, which resemble robber-flies Although there are several hundred species but are more slightly built and have a down• in this important group, many are identifi· ward-pointing proboscis. This species has a able from superficial examination, thanks to body length of about 12mm, brownish their bright colours in reasonably stable wings, and a rather hairy body. Like most patterns. They are attractive, harmless empids, it is predatory on insects but also insects, sharing the habit of hovering read• feeds on nectar. ilythen darting. All feed at flowers, on nec• Habitat A wide variety of flowery habi• tar or pollen particularly favouring the tats such as wood borders, scrub, wood• flowers of the Umbelliferae such as Hog• land rides. weed or Angelica. Some mimic bees and Status and distribution Widespread wasps. The larvae vary considerably in form and frequent throughout. and life-style, many, such as Episyrphus bol• Season 5-8. teotus are active carnivores, feeding espe• Similar species cially on . Other feeding habits E. stercorea is similar in size and habits, but include dung-feeding, wood-feeding and has a yellowish body with a black stripe, and preying upon aquatic larvae. Hoverflies are clearer wings. Wi des Dread throughout. covered more fully here than most other Hilara maura is dark-bodied, slightly groups of flies because of their popularity smaller; the males have enlarged front tarsi, with naturalists and relative ease of identi• which are quite conspicuous. Frequent fication (pp.2 I6--32). throughout, particularly near water. l'/atychcims IJOdagratus l'occi/o/JOthms l1o/Jilitatus A smallish , with a wingspan of Though very small, with a wingspan of about 12-1 5mm. One of a group of rather 12-14mm, this is an attractive and quite similar hoverflies with narrow bodies, black conspicuous little fly. Large numbers con• and yellow markings and a black stripe gregate on mud and around water; both down the back. sexes have mottled brown wings, but males Habitat Bogs, moorland and acid wet have white tips, and they constantly court places. females or fight other males. Body metallic Status and distribution Frequent in N greenish. Britain, widespread though local on the Habitat Around still and slow-moving Continent, mainly in hilly areas. water-bodies. Season 5-7. 1 ••• ,,/ Status and distribution Very common Similar species in S Britain, less common northwards; P. clypeotus is slightly more robust, with widespread and common on the Conti• smaller yellow spots at the base of the nent. abdomen; widespread and common, espe• Season 5-9. cially in the south. Similar species There are many other flies in this group (the Long-headed Flies Dolichopodidoe), though none are as easily identifiable as this species. -'

216 DIPTERA Chrysotoxul/1 iJicil1ctlll11 Similar species An attractive and distinctive hoverfly, with D. albostriatus has broader, curved yellow a wingspan of about 25mm. The body is stripes, with the lowest one unbroken. black, with 2 distinctive bands of yellow Widespread through most of the UK and (hence the Latin name bicinctum) and 2 tiny N Europe. yellow spots between them. The antennae D. lunulatus has hooked yellow lunules are relatively long, and straight. rather than bars. Mainly northern in the Habitat Grassland and scrub, especially UK, especially in woods. Widespread on on calcareous soils. the Continent. Status and distribution Widespread, locally common in the south, rarer in the fasciata north in UK; widespread and frequent on A small to medium hoverfly, with a wing• the Continent. span of about 20mm. Antennae shorter' Season 5-9. than in the above species. Abdomen black, with I interrupted yellow stripe and 2 ChrysotoxlIlJl (estiUlll11 complete ones. Slightly larger than C. bicinctum, but with Habitat Mainly in and around old wood• similar antennae. Body black, with 3 inter• land, but moving into flowery habitats rupted yellow bands. Thorax black, with (including gardens) to feed at flowers. yellow edges. Status and distribution Widespread Habitat Sheltered flowery places, such as throughout, but very local in the UK, more woodland edges and scrub. frequent in wooded parts of the Continent. Status and distribution Widespread Season 5-10. and moderately common northwards to S Similar species Scotland; throughout N Europe. D. intermedia is very similar and hard to sep• Season 6-10. arate; it is slightly smaller, and has all-black Similar species halteres (part yellow in D. (asciata). Wide• C. verna/e is very similar in size and mark• spread but local, probably under-recorded. ings, but the yellow bars are more evenly curved, not kinked. Rare in SW England Doyos cOllopseus only; more frequent, though southern, on A large distinctive species, with a wingspan the Continent. of over 30mm. Body narrow, black with a 'waisted' appearance, a thin yellow band Dasysyrphus tricillctus near the waist, and brown front margins to A medium-sized hoverfly, with a wingspan the wings. of about 22mm. Thorax black, unmarked; Habitat Woodland edges and glades, or abdomen black, rather diamond-shaped, sheltered grassland. with 3 yellow rings, the central one largest Status and distribution Rare and local and usually uninterrupted, the other 2 thin in Britain, confined to England; more wide• and broken. spread on the Continent. Habitat Woodland rides and margins. Season 6-8. Status and distribution Local and Similar species mainly southern in the UK. More wide• No other hoverfly resembles it, but it is spread on the Continent. similar to some solitary wasps, or conopid Season 4-9. flies (see p.232).

218 DIPTERA