bug_me's Identifications

Locality: NEW ZEALAND AK, Auckland 1072, suburb of Saint Johns, University of Auckland Tamaki Campus.

Habitat: On the trunk of a tree, near the pond.

Identification: Parentia restricta (Hutton, 1901). Male. ID based on Bickel (1992). Note that this isn't the first time that I have seen this species on campus.

REFERENCES
Bickel, D.J. 1992 (imprint 1991): Sciapodinae, Medeterinae (Insecta: Diptera) with a generic review of the Dolichopodidae. Fauna of New Zealand, (23) Extract and PDF [See p. 32, and 'Figures 40-42, Map 22'; description (female, male)]

A possible Tachinid Fly (Tachinidae sp.), photographed along the Virl O. Norton trail at Alamaden Quicksilver County Park in southern Santa Clara County, CA. This fly was huge as flies go - about the size of a Western Yellowjacket, which is what I thought it was initially. From face to tail, it was easily an inch to an inch and a half long, and a bit scary-looking. It was sunning itself on the leaves of a California Bay Laurel (Umbellularia californica).

Identification is quite tentative, as I have never encountered anything quite like it before. Identification is based in part on the fact that this fly has three segmented antennae (two segments forming a "paddle," plus a thin, hair-like arista supplying the third segment), which places it in the informal grouping of flies known as the Cyclorrapha. Tentatively placed in Tachinidae, a member family of the Cyclorrapha, based on the sheer size of this individual, its rather extensive hairiness, and the relatively wide separation of its eyes. Identification might be in error, so other suggestions as to what this fly might be would be greatly appreciated.