Ectophasia crassipenis

Ectophasia crassipennis

"Ectophasia crassipennis" is a species of 'parasitic flies' of the family Tachinidae, subfamily Phasiinae.
Ectophasia cf. crassipennis - Tachinid fly Animal,Animalia,Arthropoda,Bulgaria,Diptera,Ectophasia crassipennis,Ectophasia sp.,Europe,Geotagged,Insect,Insecta,Sofia,South park,Summer,Tachinid fly,Tachinidae,Wildlife

Appearance

Adults of "Ectophasia crassipennis" can reach a length of about 5–9 millimetres. Their large compound eyes are reddish. In this quite variable species the body may be blackish or orange-brownish. The broad abdomen is flattened and sternite 7 is ventrally folded. The large wings have wide brownish or greyish dots and the cell R5 is opened at the edge. It is quite difficult to distinguish this species from the similar "Ectophasia oblonga".
Red eyes I never thought flies could be beautiful... Ectophasia crassipennis,Europe,Geotagged,Macro,Portugal,Summer,fly

Distribution

This fly is present in Southern Europe and warmer parts of Central Europe.
Tachinid Fly (Ectophasia crassipennis) E crassipennis is a very recent arrival in the UK with the first 4 records made in 2019. Alhough now establishing itself along the south coast of England and slowly northwards, recorded numbers are still very low. Measuring between 6 & 9mm, this species is notable for its sexual dimorphism and variations in appearance. Generally females, seen in this photo, are smaller than males and have an oval shaped abdomen, while the male's abdomen is noticeably flattened by comparison. Females have a single darkened patch on the wing, while the wings of the male are dark around the edges with a small central spot in the middle. Adults are usually seen on the flowers of umbellifers, while the larvae are parasites of Pentatomids & Acanthosomatids (Shieldbugs). Ectophasia crassipenis,Ectophasia crassipennis,Geotagged,Summer,United Kingdom

Behavior

These flies can mostly be encountered from early August through late September feeding on nectar of flowers.

The larvae are parasitic of Hemiptera.

References:

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Taxonomy
KingdomAnimalia
DivisionArthropoda
ClassInsecta
OrderDiptera
FamilyTachinidae
GenusEctophasia
SpeciesE. crassipennis
Photographed in
Belgium
Bulgaria
Germany
United Kingdom
Portugal
Serbia