Reported as "new to Britain" in the Dipterists Digest, vol 18, part 1, 2011, this rare Tachinid fly found its way into my conservatory where it was trapped and found dead on the floor last week (21-Apr-2014). The species isn't in my key to Tachinidae, but was strongly suggested by Theo Zeegers on diptera.info and confirmed by Chris Raper, to whom I sent the specimen for microscopic examination. See www.diptera.info/forum/viewthread.php?thread_id=60308. There are currently NO records for this species on the NBN Gateway! There are no more than 3 or 4 observations on the UK Tachinid Recording Scheme to date (Ivan Perry got the first). They will find their way onto the NBN Gateway in due course.The details for the record are:Location: UK, East Suffolk, Ipswich, TM16644502, Indoors (in my conservatory).Date: 21-Apr-2014Found by M CooperDetermined by C Raper.
Does anyone know what this is?It must still be flying around in our house, so I hope that I can have another go at photographing it. It appeared in our kitchen while I was busy and I thought it looked interesting, but disappeared before I had a chance to have a proper try at getting a photo. These are all a bit dark.The "chest" is awesome with those bristly pads of thck hairs. i wonder if it has to grapple something, and needs a strong grip.