Thelaira nigrina
This is a long-legged, hairy fly with plumose antennae. The central dark band down the back of the abdomen is bordered by orange and white.
Thelaira solivago is very similar and easily confused. This has 3 long anterodorsal bristles on the mid tibia whereas T. nigrina only has 2 (ignore the short bristles towards the ends).
https://tachinidae.org.uk/blog/distinguishing-species-of-thelaira/
A quality photo is needed showing the ad bristles on the mid tibia, or a comment describing how you identified the species.
Hedgerows and grassland.
Flight period: June to August.
Parasitic on some larger moth species.
Fairly frequent and widespread in England and Wales.
Fairly frequent in Leicestershire and Rutland.
Leicestershire & Rutland Map
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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:
- 24
- First record:
- 16/08/2009 (Calow, Graham)
- Last record:
- 29/08/2024 (Nicholls, David)
Total records by month
% of records within its species group
10km squares with records
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