Colepia_rufiventris

Red Robber Fly (Colepia rufiventris) with a captured meal of a Honey Bee, sitting on a loquat leaf in my garden. Pentax67 lens.

comments (11)

Vodkaman

Lion

On the side of the thorax, you can see a single jointed plate. In front of this plate is a bald patch. The only species that I can find to match this feature is Neoaratus hercules.
http://bie.ala.org.au/species/urn:lsid:biodiversity.org.au:afd.taxon:29029f76-e85f-4f20-b9bb-acc00308aa9f#tab_gallery

Another feature on your specimen, is the white marks on the antennae, but I have not found this yet.

Dave Posted 9 years ago
1. betsuin
  
  Eagle Owl
  
  It appears to be the critter as documented below:
  http://collections.museumvictoria.com.au/species/8576
  http://www.brisbaneinsects.com/brisbane_robberflies/RedRobberFly.htm Posted 9 years ago, modified 9 years ago
2. 1. Vodkaman
    
    Lion
    
    It is indeed your robber fly's identical twin, no doubt about it. Even has the white markings on the antennae.
    
    The BIG question is, has Brisbane got the ID right. Brisbane is usually very reliable and I am inclined to go along with you and see what WildFlower has to say on this one. My issue is that I cannot find a good match in the Atlas of Living Australia. This is what you might call the bible, seeing as more than half the robber flies on this site are named by the gut who collected all the specimens, Greg Daniels.
    
    The population of robber flies in Australia is daunting, but I think we should make every effort to put the right name on the species. This will give future researchers a quality image that can be referenced back to an absolutely reliable source. If we can achieve this to everyone's satisfaction, then we will have furthered the cause of the amateur collector.
    
    I will message WildFlower now, and will open up my search again tonight.
    
    Good work.
    
    Dave Posted 9 years ago
  2. 1. betsuin
      
      Eagle Owl
      
      Sounds a sensible approach. Lets see if more trained eyes can suss it out. Certainly agree that correct identification is an important thing. Posted 9 years ago
3. WildFlower
  
  Lion
  
  I don't think this is Neoaratus hercules, Dave. There are too many differences in the legs, the shape and stripes of the wings etc.
  http://www.boldsystems.org/index.php/Taxbrowser_Taxonpage?taxid=643210
  https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Neoaratus_hercules_male_3.jpg
  https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Neoaratus_hercules_%285423322500%29.jpg
  https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Neoaratus_hercules_male_1.jpg Posted 9 years ago
4. 1. Vodkaman
    
    Lion
    
    Thanks WildFlower.
    
    Dave Posted 9 years ago

WildFlower

Lion

Do you have a top view? It would help to compare with the ALA collection in order to confirm the ID.
http://bie.ala.org.au/species/Colepia+rufiventris#tab_gallery Posted 9 years ago, modified 9 years ago
1. betsuin
  
  Eagle Owl
  
  Actually I do:
  http://www.jungledragon.com/image/38540 Posted 9 years ago
2. 1. WildFlower
    
    Lion
    
    Thanks, but I wanted to see the wing pattern which is not clear here. Posted 9 years ago
  2. 1. betsuin
      
      Eagle Owl
      
      Ah, wasn't the best of snaps, hand held... Posted 9 years ago
    2. 1. WildFlower
        
        Lion
        
        No, there's nothing wrong with the photo, it's just that the depth of field is very shallow and the focus is on the thorax, not on the wings. Posted 9 years ago