Coremacera marginata

Coremacera marginata
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Subphylum:	Hexapoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Diptera
Family:	Sciomyzidae
Genus:	Coremacera
Species:	C. marginata
Binomial name
Coremacera marginata (Fabricius, 1775)
Synonyms
Coremacera tristis Statinia marginata

Coremacera marginata, the Snail-killing Fly, is a species of 'marsh flies' belonging to the family Sciomyzidae.

This species is present in most of Europe and in the Near East.

The adults grow up to 7–10 millimetres (0.28–0.39 in) long and can be encountered in grasslands and woodlands, feeding on nectar or sipping dew.

Coremacera marginata in copula. Filmed in a forest at Marburg, Hesse, Germany.

Coremacera marginata, lateral view

Coremacera marginata, close up of the head with hairy terminal antennae

This medium sized fly shows a slender dark-greyish body. The prominent eyes are reddish. The brown-yellowish antennae are forward-pointing, with an hairy 3rd segnent and a whitish arista. The dark-grey wings are mottled by many greyish spots.

Larvae prey on several terrestrial genera of snails.

Subspecies

• Coremacera marginata var. marginata (Fabricius, 1775)
• Coremacera marginata var. pontica Elberg, 1968

References

• L. Watson and M. J. Dallwitz - Sciomyzidae
• Knutson, L.V - Biology and Immature Stages of Coremacera marginata F. a Predator of Terrestrial Snails (Dipt. Sciomyzidae - Insect Systematics & Evolution, Volume 4, Number 2, 1973 , pp. 123-133(11) - Publisher: BRILL

External links

• Biolib
• Aramel
• Micropics.org.uk