1. Forums
  2. Learn about flies
  3. Diptera diversity in Park Wood, Keighley. Nothing to see here?

Diptera diversity in Park Wood, Keighley. Nothing to see here?

Comments

Hello! I am looking for anyone more expert than me (doesn't narrow it down) to cast their eye over my 42-strong species-richness list for a small wood near my home town of Keighley in West Yorkshire. I suspect there is nothing much to say about it, but I don't know, and that's the point. I would like to learn and would greatly appreciate any comments. I am going to write about my list in a report to Friends of Park Wood. Here it is: 

Family

Species name

Common name

Agromyzidae, Leaf-mining Flies

Phytomyza ilicis

Holly Leaf Miner

Anthomyiidae, False House Flies

Eustalomyia festiva (f)

Subplumose Log Fly

Bibionidae, St. Mark's Flies

Bibio johannis (m)

Johann's Bibio

Bibio lanigerus

Lesser Variable Bibio

Bibio marci (f)

St. Mark's Fly

Bibio varipes (f)

Variable Bibio

Calliphoridae, Blowflies

Lucilia caesar

Common Greenbottle

Cecidomyiidae, Gall midges

Acericesis campestre

Gall Midge

Empididae, Dagger flies

Empis livida

Tan Dagger Fly

Empis opaca

Dark-kneed Dagger Fly

Empis tessellata

Tessellated Dagger Fly

Hybotidae, Dance Flies

Ocydromia glabricula (f)

Dance Fly

Lauxaniidae, Plump Flies

Meiosimyza rorida

Dew Plump Fly

Meiosimyza rorida

Dew Plump Fly

Limoniidae, Short-palped Craneflies

Epiphragma ocellare

Large Ocelot

Ilisia maculata

Ocelot Twist-tail

Limonia phragmatidis

Common Yellow Three-dot Limonia

Lonchopteridae, Spear-Winged Flies

Lonchopera sp.

Spear-winged Fly

Muscidae, House Flies

Phaonia angelicae (m)

Yellow-winged Bristleshin

Phaonia pallida (m)

Orange Bristleshin

Ptychopteridae

Ptychoptera paludosa

Black Strong-mark Foldwing

Rhagionidae, Snipe Flies

Rhagio lineola

Small Fleck-winged Snipe Fly

Rhagio notatus (m)

Large Fleck-winged Snipefly

Rhagio scolopaceus (f)

Downlooker Snipefly

Rhagio tringarius (f)

Marsh Snipefly

Sarcophagidae, Flesh Flies

Sarcophaga carnara ag.

Fleshfly

Sarcophaga sp.

Fleshfly

Scathophagidae, Dung Flies

Scathophaga furcata (mating pair)

Furcate Dung Fly

Scathophaga stercoraria (m)

Yellow Dung Fly

Sepsidae, Ensign Flies

Nemopoda nitidula

Side-spotted Sepsid

Stratiomyidae, Soldier Flies

Chorisops nagatomii (m)

Bright Four-spined Legionnaire

Syrphidae, Hoverflies

Episyrphus balteatus

Marmalade Hoverfly

Eupodes corollae (f)

Migrant Broadtail

Melanostoma scalare

Slender Slimwrist Hoverfly

Merodon equestris (m)

Large Narcissus Fly

Rhingia rostrata

Grey backed Snout Hoverfly

Syrphus ribesii

Humming Syrph

Tachinidae, Parasite Flies

Tachina fera

Common Tachina

Tipulidae, Long-palped Craneflies

Cylindrotoma distinctissima

Common Tiger Damsel Cranefly

Nephrotoma cornicina (m)

Sharp-tipped Tiger

Tipula lunata

Tabbed Orange Long-palp

Tipula maxima

Giant Long-palp

Tipula oleracea

Marsh White-stripe

Tipula sp.

Cranefly

Tipula sp.

Cranefly

Tipula vittata (f)

Twin-striped Grey Long-palp

I'd agree that there's not much to highlight here. I would query the Rhingia rostrata record - not out of the question, but campestris is the more commonly found species. Rhagio notatus is a significant find, in my experience (at least here in East Anglia) - is the record based on a specimen or photograph?. Also note spelling of Sarcophaga carnaria (just me being picky!). 

It's important not to undervalue local lists like this - as they are created and submitted so that national schemes can assimilate them, they come together to form the baseline, the context in which the distribution and status of species is judged. As species react to climate change they may provide the first indications  that something is wrong. And of course, in preparing the lists, you are developing the skills to undertake further work. Well done!

Thank you! I am extremely excited that I might have made mistakes because I want to learn. I attach my only two photos of (are they?): Rhingia rostrata and Rhagio notatus (male). To identify I have used: Falk, S. et al., 2026, A Photographic Guide to Flies of Britain & Ireland (my bible!). 

Observed 17/05/2026 on vegetation at woodland edge

 

Observed 07/07/2026 in a woodland glade

Thanks for posting the photos Eric.

The Rhingia is one I think I'll pass on. It probably is rostrata, but it would be good to have a second opinion from someone more familiar with the species

The Rhagio is more straightforward. It is lineola (note the yellow base to the front femora). It is also considerably  smaller and slighter that notatus.