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.