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Murky-legged Black Legionnaire - Beris chalybata
Their halteres are whitish in colour, their legs are long and dirty orange and their feet are dark. Note the 6 spines on the scutellum - characteristic of the genus. It also has tinted wings.
There are 6 British species in the Beris genus and these can usually be distinguished by the combination of abdomen and leg colours. See ID Aids below.
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.
Unless identified by a recognised expert, a photo is required. If the photo doesn't show the key ID features then in the comments box describe the size and identifying characters you have observed.
Flying, or resting, on sunlit leaves in bushes, hedges or other flowering plants.
Early summer.
It feeds on pollen and nectar and sometimes also on the substrate of rotten plants. Females lay eggs individually on rotting plants. The larvae overwinter. They pupate in spring, in a hardened larval skin. The adult flies leave this through a T-shaped slit.
Fairly frequent and widespread in Britain.
Fairly common in Leicestershire and Rutland
Leicestershire & Rutland Map
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Species profile
- Common names
- Murky-legged Black Legionnaire
- Species group:
- Flies
- Kingdom:
- Animalia
- Order:
- Diptera
- Family:
- Stratiomyidae
- Records on NatureSpot:
- 32
- First record:
- 15/05/2010 (Nicholls, David)
- Last record:
- 27/05/2023 (Cooper, Barbara)
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