Scathophaga scybalaria
A very large, orange-yellow, furry species ('teddy-bear fly') in which the attractive males are covered in long golden fur, have a strong yellowish tinge to the wings and long yellow legs. However, smaller duller individuals also occur which are less readily distinguished from S. stercoraria. Large specimens of S. lutaria seem particularly liable to be mistaken for this species, probably because the membranous strip above the hind coxae is darkened and not at all obvious in some cases. The male claspers are distinctive being rather pale and narrow, darkening towards the tip which is bifid whereas most other Scathophaga have simple, stout, black claspers. Wing length: ♂ 10.2 - 11.0 - 11.9 mm (8); ♀ 9.0 - 9.6 - 10.2 mm (6).
This is a dung breeder (Skidmore in Stubbs & Chandler, 1978[1]). and males are frequently found at or near cow pats, although there seems to be a preference for damp places such as fens and damp meadows.
References
A local species of the north and west which is often abundant where it occurs. It is particularly frequent in the New Forest and parts of Wales.
World distribution: Palaearctic: Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland; Russia: European and eastern Palaearctic.