BG1485 D1575 - Drino - BugGuide.Net

Moved

Moved from Tachinidae.

… v belov, 13 April, 2009 - 4:10pm

Moved

Moved from Flies.

… Eric R. Eaton, 29 February, 2008 - 12:34pm

....

These are awesome pics !
I especially like the face shot. Very cool !

… Sam Houston, 31 January, 2008 - 7:54am

Hate when this happens

I'm pretty sure flesh flies have three black stripes on the thorax, but can't find my reference. Nice series, at any rate; I've really been enjoying your recent fly posts.

… Ron Hemberger, 30 January, 2008 - 10:32pm

This looks like

a tachinid fly to me. Beautiful photos.

… Ken Schneider, 31 January, 2008 - 10:38am

How about

BG as a reference?
SEE HERE

… Tony-2, 31 January, 2008 - 6:59am

Yes, I did check that.

No reference to three stripes, however. (I do appreciate all you've done for/with flies.)

… Ron Hemberger, 31 January, 2008 - 11:53am

No number, but gray stripes

Copied from the page

"Identification
Similar to blowflies, but generally blackish with gray thoracic stripes (never metallic)."

3 black stripes on a gray background is usual, but this statement could be interpreted as 4 gray stripes on a black background.
The major difference between Sarcophagids and Tachinids (this seems to me to be the only 2 possibilities for this fly) is the presence of a strongly developed subscutellum in Tachinids; I'll try and post a photo.

… Tony-2, 31 January, 2008 - 12:07pm

Another difference

between Sarcophagids and Tachinids seems to be a bare arista in tachs and a basally plumose arista in sarcs. You often can't see the arista that well, but in these nice pics, it looks bare to me?

… Ken Schneider, 31 January, 2008 - 12:50pm

Not consistent

Several Sarcophagid genera have a bare arista. Tachinids generally bare but plumose in the Dexiini.

I have posted a lateral view of a Tachinid thorax to show the subscutellum:

… Tony-2, 31 January, 2008 - 3:14pm

Thanks!

Good to know this information, and nice picture illustrating the subscutellum. So... with all the nice photos of this fly, do we need another one with a wing elevated to look for this feature? Or can you tell from one of these pics?

… Ken Schneider, 31 January, 2008 - 4:01pm

I agree with Tachinidae.

The overall 'Gestalt' says Tachinid to me: big head, blunt abdomen, small "pads" on feet would seem to exclude sarcophagids.

… Eric R. Eaton, 29 February, 2008 - 12:33pm