Fannia lustrator

Fannia lustrator

Description

7-9mm. The slim abdomen is dull green-brown and quite bristly (occasionally more reddish). The mid and hind legs are generally red-yellow, with dark front legs. The base of the wings are yellow-orange. Males have a pair of downward-pointing spines on the sternopleura between their legs and bent/hooked bristles on the middle coxa.

Identification difficulty
ID checklist (your specimen should have all of these features)
  • short anal vein which looks to be converging with vein 7 (= Fannidae)
  • dark bristles on the outer face of the hind coxa
  • slim abdomen - dark or greyish green
  • females with very narrow frons (less than half the eye width)
  • front and mid legs red-yellow
  • hind femora with a row of 4+ dark antero-ventral bristles
Habitat

Various habitats, especially well wooded areas.

When to see it

Late April to July is peak time although it may be seen into early autumn.

UK Status

Widespread and fairly frequent in Britain.

VC55 Status

Status in Leicestershire and Rutland not known.

Leicestershire & Rutland Map

MAP KEY:

Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2025+ | 2020-2024 | pre-2020

UK Map

Additional images

All NatureSpot records