Tephrochlamys tarsalis

This small/medium fly is a winter specialist, appearing in December and January. It has a grey thorax and an orange abdomen. See the ID checklist below for a detailed list of the key ID features.

Tephrochlamys flavipes is the species most similar but can be distinguished by its pale gena - see photo guide

• the frontorbital plate runs alongside the eye (a pale band along the eye margin)
• mid tibia with a single ventral apical bristle
• grey thorax + orange abdomen
• 3 post-sutoral dorsocentral bristles and none in front of the suture
• tiny acrostichal bristles in 6+ rows
• wing lenth 4-5.5mm
• antennae dull orange
• subcostal cell darkened in the basal half
• front femora with a dark streak above
• gena grey (same as occiput)

Adults: December - January

Known to breed in old bird and mammal nests (reared from Rook, Kingfisher and Wood Mouse nests).

Scattered records only in England and Wales.

Rare or under-recorded.

Heleomyzid Recording Scheme - with an excellent illustrated key.