Spaziphora hydromyzina, new to Fife from Lochgelly

Spaziphora hydromyzina, female

Loch Gelly, NT2092

24.ii.2021 (pupa), emerged 3.iii.2021

A pupa, picked up on the edge of Loch Gelly on 24th February, bore fruit today when an adult female Spaziphora was seen bumping about in the pot. It was still teneral and its face hadn't settled in, so when I started to key it later I thought I was going to be in the Sciomyzidae! When I looked again at the now coloured-in specimen the face had receded and it was more identifiable as a scathophagid.

This is the second time I've had this species, albeit it's not on the Fife list. The previous one I remember I had sufficient doubt about it not to record. Be nice to compare if I can track down the specimen in my store boxes.

pupa

2 3

4

teneral, with partial balloon-face

5 6 7

8
9

after drying out

10

11

12 ​ Post settings Labels #diptera, Published on 3/3/21 8:51 PM Permalink Location Options

Golden Dung Fly - Scathophaga stercoraria

Maybe the first time ever recorded in my garden, this female was potted from a fencepost near the fish-baited bottle trap. Wonder if, like a sparrowhawk at a birdfeeder, she was waiting to snatch anything of a suitable size that came too close.

Reminds me of a time when I accidentally potted one with a small fly in the same tube in Uig Bay, Skye. An interesting, but grim, spectacle was provided as the scathophagid sucked the juices out of its hapless room-mate.