ID Guide - Beris
This genus of soldierflies are all of modest size with an elliptical abdomen. The abdomen is either blackish or mainly orange but without a striking pattern. They also have 6 spines projecting backwards from the scutellum. Note that flies in the related Chorisops genus have 4 spines.
There are 6 known species in Britain. It is not known if all can be found in Leicestershire and Rutland and the status descriptions are based on national records.
Species | Abdomen | Legs | Status |
B. chalybata | black | dull orange | common |
B. fuscipes | black | dark with orange on tips of femora + base of tibiae | uncommon |
B. geniculata | black | dark all over | common |
B. morrisii | black | clear yellow | uncommon |
B. clavipes | orange | hind tibiae orange | rare |
B. vallata | orange | hind tibiae half black / half orange | common |
Note: as with many species there can be variation amongst specimens.