Zophomyia temula
In 3 days ~10% in a week ~20%
Zophomyia temula is a species of fly in the family Tachinidae. This rather common species has a European distribution, and includes Transcaucasia, Kazakhstan and South Siberia. These flies usually inhabit meadows, woodland, hedge rows and moist environments, and can often be found in the grass and on low-hanging leaves.
Zophomyia temula can reach a body length of approximately 8–10.5 millimetres (0.31–0.41 in), with a wingspan of 15–17 mm. These flies are shiny and black on most of the body. This includes the thorax, abdomen, and setulae. This feature is unique in the family Tachinidae. The eyes are moderately sized and dark red in color. The body is quite slim and slightly elongated, as well as sparsely haired. The legs, like the body, are slender and long, covered in thick, dense hair. The wings are hyaline, with a warm yellow-orange base.
This species is rather similar to Mesembrina meridiana, belonging to the Muscidae family, characterized by a larger size and by the typical round shape of the true fly. Adults can be found from April to August, feeding on nectar and pollen of flowers, especially of Heracleum sphondylium... Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pyrénées National Park | 🇫🇷 France |
More parks will be added in future updates.
Rare
Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Zophomyia temula sighting in London on a given day, based on 19 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 821st most-seen of the 1504 insects we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 10%, and over a week to about 20%, if each day is a fresh chance.
June
In that month about 10% of wildlife watchers report a Zophomyia temula in London on a given day, against under 5% in July to May, the lowest months.
Between 5 and 8 pm
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Zophomyia temula sightings with a recorded time, and about 6 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is most active around dawn and dusk.
5th of 6
Of the 6 cities where we can rate Zophomyia temula sightings, London ranks 5th at under 5%. The best odds are in Amsterdam (Netherlands, about 10%), Warsaw (Poland, about 10%) and Hamburg (Germany, under 5%).
Same family: Tachinidae
The closest relatives of the Zophomyia temula that you can see in London (family Tachinidae, Tachinid Flies) are Red Spotted Parasite Fly (about 10%), Common Tachinid (about 10%) and Phania funesta (about 10%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Zophomyia temula is recorded against all the insects logged in London (19 verified sightings), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
