| Dinera ferina (Fallén, 1817) |
|
|
|
Scientific name: Dinera ferina (Fallén, 1817) Common name: French name: Order: Diptera Family: Tachinidae Wingspan : 8-14 mm. Biotope: Hedgerows, woodland edges, clearings. Geographic area: Palaearctic region. Observation period : June to September. |
Dinera ferina is a chequered tachinid fly with erected bristles at right angle on the abdomen. You can tell it apart with its very long black legs, especially on males. There is a possible confusion with Dinera carinifrons. Females are more difficult to recognize. Based on this, species identification must be confirmed by a close exam of the bristles. There is one long bristle on the antenna (arista), and a few parafacial bristles in reduced number. You need to look at the longitudinal alignment of the dorsocentral bristles on the thorax. Dinera ferina shows three bristles before the suture and four after. Dinera carinifrons also shows three bristles before the suture but only three after. The tachinid flies of the Bithia genus have erected scutellar apical bristles at the opposite of Dinera ferina. The larvae of Dinera ferina parasite the larvae of the Rhinoceros Beetle (Sinodendron cylindricum). You often observe imagos on flowers where they feed on nectar. |
| [To know more about the Dinera ferina] [Next picture] [Top] |
|
I have first been impressed by the very long length of this tachinid fly's legs. I have no pictures where you can clearly see the dorsocentral bristles. So there is still a doubt between Dinera ferina and Dinera carinifrons. |
| [To know more about the Dinera ferina] [Previous picture] [Top] |
|
As soon as you want to enter into the diptera world then you have to "count the bristles of the flies". Here is an interesting challenge for the wildlife photographer who does not process with captures. I will try to make progress in photography and in the knowledge of these numerous insects. |
André Bon October 2011