| Limnia unguicornis (Scopoli, 1763) |
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Scientific name: Limnia unguicornis (Scopoli, 1763) Common name: French name: Order: Diptera Family: Sciomyzidae Wingspan : 4,5-7,5 mm. Biotope: Various habitats, meadows, woodland edges, damp areas. Geographic area: Palaearctic région. Observation period : May to September. |
Flies of the Sciomyzidae family show a flat forehead often extended by pointing forward and lengthy antennae. The front of the head is white and concave shaped. Limnia unguicornis shows an arista extended by long white setae. The mesonotum bears two bluish grey longitudinal stripes on each side of a broad golden yellow median band. These stripes and band are more sharply marked on females than on males. The upper side of the head bears a longitudinal median stripe between two broad orange bands bordered on the external side by some small black spots. The legs are yellow. The wings show reticulated patterns which are better marked on the apical half. They are darkened on the costal edge. The larvae are predators of snails and slugs and in particular of Succinea putris. Limnia paludicola shows a dark brown median band on the mesonotum. This can be used to tell females apart from Limnia unguicornis (golden yellow band), this is very difficult for males. Dichetophora obliterata shows pale yellow legs with darker orange apex on femurs. |
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It is not easy to see the band of the mesonotum with a fly in this position. However with a close look at the non reduced picture you can guess a well marked golden yellow central stripe. This confirms the species identification and probably indicates one female. |
André Bon January 2021