More Insects and spiders from today.....

[James G]

The weather has settled into bright spells interspersed with heavy showers.... Still cool, but I got a couple of hours this afternoon.

#1 Stretch Spider, (Tetragnatha extensa)


#2 Stretch Spider, (Tetragnatha extensa)


#3 Hoverfly, (Rhingia rostrata) on Forge-Me-Not


#4 Hoverfly, (Ceilosiini Ferdinania)


#5 unidentified!!


#6 Scorpion Fly, (Panorpa communis)


Identifications are somewhat tentative... I'm no expert so open to correction...

[DanK]

Very nice. Was #5 quite small? I don't know what it is, but it looks a lot like this one, which I captured a few years ago. I was shorter than a housefly, with a much narrower abdomen:



A site where you can often get identification of any diptera is http://www.diptera.info/news.php

[James G]

Hi Dan, thanks for the link, I'll add it to my references.
As regards #5 , yes it was quite small, maybe 5-7mm. Unfortunately I never got to see it fro above,but it does
look very similar to your unknown capture.

[bnnrcn]

Great captures

[Downrigger]

Very nice images, sharp clear and interesting. Perhaps the "small" houseflies were simply underfed as maggots (see https://www4.uwm.edu/fieldstation/na.../house_fly.cfm).

[Shadowman]

Nice series.

[IzzieK]

James...Sorry I am not as interested in the flies as I am with your spider...The images are all nice and all that and I have a question on the last one, what are those orange and black thingie on it near the bottom of the fly?

It is the spider that fascinates me more...It has more character...the face is really cute. #1 can you turn the image around so that the head is more upright? The second one is the same too but more closer I suppose so I imagine seeing its teeth and talking to you...interesting creatures...more like alien-nises...

[Geoff F]

Firstly, James, you did well with the Tetragnatha spider; I find they create over exposure areas so easily.

I think the sternum is all dark, without a central paler streak, so it could well be T. montana. But always difficult to be certain.

The Rhingia is R. campestris. Check the black line around the edge of its abdomen. No black areas with rostrata. Well, very occasionally there is a faint black line but the femora will always prove the difference. A distinct black area with campestris but clear or only faintly darkened with rostrata.

#4. No! It can't be a hover can it.

Check the wing tip cross veins. There aren't any; so it must be something else. But note, there are a few other families which also have wing tip cross veins so if the veins are present it is only a rough guide. However when they are absent, like this case, you can rule out all hovers.

Incidentally, the proof of a hoverfly species is the presence of a 'false vein' in the middle of the wings but this can be difficult to see clearly.

So for #4, I wonder about one of the Phaonia such as P. subventa but I would need to consult the ID keys to definitely rule out any of the Muscidae etc.

I tend to keep clear of those many greyish flies like #5. There are so many similar families, to say nothing about getting to actual species!

But with a couple of photos or an angle like Dan's photo will probably provide sufficient information to follow the keys to family level at least.

Do you have any other angles of the Panorpa? It is male so a correct view of the genital capsule (orange and black thingy, Izzie) should be sufficient for a definite identification.

Insect photography usually means one day of shooting followed by another day of editing and a further day of identification!

[James G]

Hi Izzie,
I don't expect anyone to like all insects, I have my favourites too. (usually the more monstrous the better... it's the little boy in me )

As regards you question about the scorpion fly, the tail section is similar to the sting/ tail of a true scorpion. The scorpion-like tail is only seen in the male and is in fact its genitalia - and doesn't sting!, but it is bright orange. There is a better image from an identification forum below.

http://www.naturespot.org.uk/species/panorpa-germanica

As regards the stretch spider #1, I have cropped it and rotated it 180 degrees for you....



You are actually looking at the underside of the spider. It usually hangs on the underside of the web, waiting for prey.

[James G]

Geoff, thanks... I am an absolute novice when it comes to identification. I do hope to improve though.

Do you have any other angles of the Panorpa? It is male so a correct view of the genital capsule (orange and black thingy, Izzie) should be sufficient for a definite identification.

Unfortunately not, It scuttled away under a leaf... I was lucky to get the shot I did...I have noticed that they are not too keen to fly much but are very quick to get under cover regardless.

Insect photography usually means one day of shooting followed by another day of editing and a further day of identification!

Couldn't agree more, but as I'm now retired , small insect hunting is proving challenging and good fun. I never quite know what I'll find!

[IzzieK]

Now I can the smile from your spider thingie... It is more pleasant to look at when it is smiling back at ya! Happy spider...happy macro-ist...I like happy... Now it looks beautiful...

(BTW, I think I am aware of which side the top and which is the underneath of a spider by the look of it... I was chaing a long legged spider yesterday but it disappeared before I can go inside to get my gear. I will find him again...I don't give up easily you know...)