Myopa testacea

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Alternative names
Plain-winged Spring Beegrabber
Description

This is the most common of the Myopa species in Britain. The thorax of this species is black, not red in front of the scutellum.

Identification difficulty
ID checklist (your specimen should have all of these features)
Resembling M. testacea but with the wings more strongly marked, particularly along the outer cross vein, and also with the hind part of the mesonotum reddish (black in M.. testacea) and fine black hairs on the upper cheeks (missing in M. testacea).
Habitat

Often seen on the catkins and flowers that attract solitary spring breeding bees which they are thought to parasitize.

When to see it

Myopa species may emerge as early as April.

Life History

Suspected of parasitizing spring breeding solitary bees.

UK Status

Widespread and fairly frequent in the southern half of Britain.

VC55 Status

Occasional in Leicestershire and Rutland.

  • Graham Calow
    Sapcote garden1
    30 April 2017
    male - specimen examined
  • Mark Skevington
    Croft Hill
    06 May 2012
  • Graham Calow
    Sapcote garden1
    30 April 2017
    male - specimen examined
  • Mike Higgott
    Anstey garden
    04 May 2022
  • Mark Skevington
    Croft Hill
    06 May 2012

Leicestershire & Rutland Map

MAP KEY:

Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2020+ | 2015-2019 | pre-2015

UK Map

Species data profile ?

Species profile

Species group:
Flies
Kingdom:
Animalia
Order:
Diptera
Family:
Conopidae
Records on NatureSpot:
7
First record:
06/05/2012 (Skevington, Mark)
Last record:
29/04/2024 (Dejardin, Andrew)

Total records by month

% of records within its species group

10km squares with records

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Latest images

Latest records

  • Graham Calow
    Sapcote garden1
    30 April 2017
    male - specimen examined