Polietes meridionalis

Length about 10 mm. A greyish fly with a chequered appearance and striped thorax. The front spiracle is yellow and the parafacial and anterior gena is yellow/gold.

Polietes lardarius is very similar but this species has a grey/white front spiracle and the dusting on the parafacial and gena is silver/grey.

with good images showing the top of the thorax and a side image showing the front spiracle and face.

• Front spiracle – yellow / yellow-white
• Parafacia – shifting grey-brown dusting
• Prosternum – few hairs
• Occiput setae – mainly yellow
• Male with 4-5 av setae on hind tib

Good images are required showing the key ID features.

Around cattle pasture. Can be found sunning on walls, fences and vegetation.

May to October.

Breeds in dung. Adults are attracted to Stinkhorn fungi.

Uncommon or under-recorded.

Uncommon or under-recorded in Leicestershire and Rutland.

Its similarity to P. lardarius probably explains why it is under-recorded. It was thought to be a recent colonist but examination of museum specimens shows that it was in the UK in 1800.