Scarce Orange Legionnaire - Beris clavipes
The scarcer of the two Beris species with a black thorax and orange abdomen. Easily separable from the other (B. vallata) by the entirely (or almost entirely) orange hind tibiae. The female also has much darker wings than vallata, and these can obscure the orange abdomen when folded.
There are 6 Beris species in the UK - see ID Aids below.
This genus of soldierflies are all of modest size with an elliptical abdomen. The abdomen is either blackish or mainly orange but without a striking pattern. They also have 6 spines projecting backwards from the scutellum. Note that flies in the related Chorisops genus have 4 spines.
There are 6 known species in Britain. It is not known if all can be found in Leicestershire and Rutland and the status descriptions are based on national records.
| Species | Abdomen | Legs | Status |
| B. chalybata | black | dull orange | common |
| B. fuscipes | black | dark with orange on tips of femora + base of tibiae | uncommon |
| B. geniculata | black | dark all over | common |
| B. morrisii | black | clear yellow | uncommon |
| B. clavipes | orange | hind tibiae orange | rare |
| B. vallata | orange | hind tibiae half black / half orange | common |
Note: as with many species there can be variation amongst specimens.
Usually found in the vicinity of wetlands or flowing water, especially where shrubs and trees are present.
Adults peak in May and June (peaking a few weeks before vallata).
The larvae have been found in wet moss.
Widespread but local and infrequently recorded in England and Wales.
Uncommon or under recorded in Leicestershire and Rutland.
Graham Calow
The Grange Fields, Broughton Astley
21 May 2015
Graham Calow
The Grange Fields, Broughton Astley
21 May 2015
orange hind tibiae
David Gould
The Spearwort Fields
22 May 2016
David Gould
The Spearwort Fields
21 May 2017
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Species profile
- Common names
- Scarce Orange Legionnaire
- Species group:
- Flies
- Kingdom:
- Animalia
- Order:
- Diptera
- Family:
- Stratiomyidae
- Records on NatureSpot:
- 5
- First record:
- 21/05/2015 (Calow, Graham)
- Last record:
- 26/05/2018 (Gould, David)
Total records by month
% of records within its species group
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Latest records
Mike Higgott
County Hall
03 July 2015
David Gould
Aylestone Meadows, Spearwort Fields
26 May 2018
