Phthiria vagans

Phthiria vagans is a species of 'bee flies' belonging to the family Bombyliidae.[1]

Phthiria vagans
Phthiria vagans, female
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Subphylum:
Hexapoda
Class:
Insecta
Order:
Diptera
Family:
Bombyliidae
Subfamily:
Phthiriinae
Genus:
Phthiria
Species:
P. vagans
Binomial name
Phthiria vagans
Loew, 1846
Synonyms
  • Phthiria pallescens Engel, 1933

Distribution
Side view

This palearctic species is present in part of Europe (Croatia, France, Greece, Hungary, Italy, North Macedonia, Romania and Spain), in Central and North European Russia, [2] in Iran and in Israel, [3] and in Turkey. [4][5]

Description

Phthiria vagans can reach a body length of about 4–5 mm (0.16–0.20 in). These tiny beeflies are mainly blackish, with white spripes on the abdomen. Metapleuron shows micro-pubescence. The upper part of the face and the area around the antennae are black-haired. They show a short dorsal prong at the tips of the antennae. Palpus extends at least as far as antennae. Last sternite in male deeply concave on posterior margin. [6]

The red eyes are touching in males of all Phthiriinae, while they are separate in females (sexual dimorphism). The base of the wings is yellowish, the central part is brown, while the tip is transparent. [7]

Biology

These beeflies are active during the middle of the day (heliophilic).

gollark: I guess it would be really easy for them to get caught on cables, or something.
gollark: Worrying.
gollark: Automatically.
gollark: You could run it when you're away, though.
gollark: (I don't actually have one)

References
  1. Animal Diversity Web
  2. Fauna Europaea
  3. Catalogue of Life
  4. J. DILS & H. ÖZBEK Contribution to the Knowledge of the Bombyliidae of Turkey (Diptera)
  5. World Catalog of Bee Flies (Diptera: Bombyliidae)
  6. Bug Guide
  7. Suomen kimalaiskärpästen määrityskaava (in Finnish)


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