Linnaemya picta

Description

10-12mm. A large tachinid fly which is a relatively recent addition to the UK fauna. Black and grey patches on the abdomen become orange at the sides. Very similar in appearance to other family members so detailed examination is needed.

Identification difficulty
ID checklist (your specimen should have all of these features)
  • arista bare
  • eyes hairy
  • mouth projects beyond the vibrissae
  • parafacial bristles don't extend down beyond a third of the antennae
  • basicosta pale
  • femora all dark
  • bristles on the gena mixed with dark hairs
  • posterodorsal part of the head, behind the post-ocular row, with just a scattering of black hairs/bristlets which are all smaller than the postocular bristles
Recording advice

Must be keyed out under magnification, and preferably confirmed by an expert.

Habitat

Various habitats including woodland and other well vegetated areas.

When to see it

May to October.

UK Status

Status is difficult to determine due to lack of records – the species was only identified in Britain fairly recently, although some older records have also subsequently been re-identified as this species. 

VC55 Status

Status in Leicestershire and Rutland not known.

Leicestershire & Rutland Map

MAP KEY:

Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2025+ | 2020-2024 | pre-2020

UK Map

Species profile

Species group:
Flies
Kingdom:
Animalia
Order:
Diptera
Family:
Tachinidae
Records on NatureSpot:
5
First record:
14/06/2020 (Skevington, Mark)
Last record:
25/10/2023 (Nicholls, David)

Total records by month

% of records within its species group

10km squares with records

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Latest records