Neottiophilum praeustum

Neottiophilum praeustum

Description

9mm. This is a shining orange fly with a spinose costa. The wings are marked with dark 'shades' particularly at the wing tip.

Similar Species

There are several other orange flies with black wings markings:

Palloptera quinquemaculata - darker wing markings with the black at the tip extending a third of the way along the leading wing edge.

Meiosimyza decempunctata - wing tip black broken into separate spots.

Minetta inusta - lacks the spot over the short cross-vein.

Suillia variegata - the wing tip black mark does not reach the tip.

Identification difficulty
Recording advice

A good  photo is generally required.

Habitat

Various habitats in search of suitable birds' nests for their larva.

When to see it

May and June.

Life History

This attractively patterned fly is sometimes called the Nest Skipper Fly. The larvae are parasites of birds, sucking the blood of nestlings. It has been found in nests of House Sparrows (Passer domesticus) as well as other species including various finches.

UK Status

Very few British records have been entered, mostly from southern England.

VC55 Status

Uncommon in Leicestershire and Rutland

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

No additional images available for this species.

All NatureSpot records