St Mark'sFly Snipe-fly 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 flies. 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 hoverflies (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 insect, 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 animals) 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 genus 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 insects 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.