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Stratiomys chamaeleon


Stratiomys chamaeleon
Photo Information
Copyright: Dietrich Meyer (meyerd) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 519 W: 68 N: 1700] (5384)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-06-25
Categories: Insects
Camera: Konika Minolta Dynax 7D, Minolta AF 100 Macro & Kenko tube
Exposure: f/18.0, 1/125 seconds
Details: (Fill) Flash: Yes
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Dipterans (except Hover flies) of Europe-1 [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2008-12-22 8:07
Viewed: 501
Points: 14
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Little known backyard visitor:

This is a female Chamaeleon soldier fly (Diptera; Stratiomyidae; Stratiomys chamaeleon; Chamaeleon-Waffenfliege). It may look like a Hover fly first, but the family characters are quite different: look at the horns on the scutellum and the striation of the wings; the wings are folded tile fashion and the abdomen is flat and widens towards the end. The fly is probing for nectar with its big proboscis on Aegopodium podagraria.

ID: Flies are usually difficult to determine because good ID keys are not easy to find. There are four species of Stratiomys in my region (S. potamida; S. singulatior; S. longicornis; S. chamaeleon). This one has a small triangular black scutellum base line. The females have a yellow band behind the eye. The larvae are often seen in shallow freshwater, in ponds and so on. I used F. Sauer, 2001. Fliegen und Mücken, Fauna Verlag, Nottuln D and http://www.rutkies.de/insekten.htm.
micica, touristdidi, sandpiper2, jpdenk, saeedabbasi, JORAPAVI has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Hehehe! You are right! This is "problematic" species! For many -non-entomologsts- it will a wasp or be, for many others - it looks like Syrphidae fly, and the true is that here we are something different!:>
Nice and original presentation Dietrich! One more time I have a great pleasure watching you picture :)
TFS and all the best!
Radomir

Hi Dietrich,
und wieder hab' ich was von Dir gelernt.
So viele verschiedene Fliegenarten - wie soll man sich da noch auskennen! Aber die Augen sind auch anders als bei Schwebfliegen - also hätte ich auf Wespe,Biene oder sonstwas getippt - ich hab' noch viel zu lernen!
Aber es macht viel Spaß, nie hätte ich gedacht, dass ich mal so begeistert von Insekten würde, früher bin ich bei jedem Summen sofort panisch davongelaufen, denn ich reagiere allergisch auf Stiche - aber seit ich den Insekten offen gegenüberstehe tun sie auch nichts mehr! Klasse!
Genug philosophiert - vielen Dank, lieben Gruß, guats Nächtle!
Sabine - wishnugaruda

Wow, that is clear! I am trying to get the knack of macros, but haven't got it yet!

Hi Dietrich

Great shot of this soldier fly, I have never heard of this group before, TFS.
Excellent composition, sharpness, DOF, details and OOF background.

Hope you and your family have a safe and happy festive season.

Chris

Hi Dietrich,

Excellent image, very sharp and detailed, nice composition.

I'm usually happy to ID flies to the genus level. My skills with technical keys and the vocabulary required to use them effectively aren't up to the challenge of narrowing them down to the species level.

Thanks,
John

Hi dear Dietrich ,
Nice macro.
It has great sharpness and excellent light.
Well done
Regards
Saeed

Hola Dietrich,
Excelente macro con gran definición y detalle, colores naturales y agradable iluminación. Mis mejores deseos para tí y los tuyos. Un cordial saludo
José Ramón

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