Phania funesta

Description

Length 3.5 to 5 mm. Glossy black with pale 'shoulders' (dusted humeri and notopleuri). Very bristly.

Similar Species

Phania thoracica is the only other species in the genus and is a rare species found in the south. It has a more reddish abdomen, is larger (4.5-7mm) with 8-10 preapical bristles on the hind tibia.

Identification difficulty
ID checklist (your specimen should have all of these features)
  • 3.5-5mm
  • glossy black with pale dusted shoulders (humeri + notopleuri)
  • bare eyes
  • 2 intra-alar bristles
  • 3 sternopleural bristles
Habitat

Hedgerows and flower meadows.

When to see it

Summer to early autumn.

Life History

Believed to be a parasite of shieldbugs.

UK Status

Common in the south of England.

VC55 Status

Common.

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:
36
First record:
05/07/2013 (Calow, Graham)
Last record:
04/08/2024 (Dejardin, Andrew)

Total records by month

% of records within its species group

10km squares with records

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