| Broad Centurion (Chloromyia formosa (Scopoli, 1763)) |
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Scientific name: Chloromyia formosa (Scopoli, 1763) Common name: Broad Centurion French name: Chloromye agréable Order: Diptera Family: Stratiomyidae Wingspan : 7-10 mm. Biotope: Damp meadows, woodland edges, parks and gardens. Geographic area: Palaearctic region, introduced to North America. Observation period : May to August. |
Broad Centurions are small flies with a metallic green thorax. They show a rather broad abdomen. It is a metallic green colour with blues sheens on female and it is golden coloured on males. The wings are light brown. The rather large head is black and rounded. The eyes are hairy. They touch each other on males while they are clearly spaced on females. The legs are black with orange knees. There is a possible confusion with Chloromyia speciosa. This last species shows a pale yellow basitarsus (part of the tarsus close to the tibia) on the hind legs. The same basitarsus is blackish brown on Broad centurions. Adults gather nectar on flowers, especially umbelliferae. Larvae feed on decaying plants in the litter. |
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The dark hind leg's basitarsus confirme the Chloromyia formosa species. The metallic green abdomen indicates one female. |
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Side view. |
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I think we still have a female here. I do not despair of photographing a male. |
André Bon June 2022