Chaetosa punctipes
A small grey species with entirely pale legs, including the front coxae. The third antennal joint is noticeably pointed anteriorly at the tip. Wing length: ♂ 3.6 - 4.0 - 4.7 mm (14); ♀ 3.7 - 4.1 - 5.0 mm (14).
Widespread and common and usually found in long vegetation in wetland or damp grassland situations. According to Collin (1958)[1], the larvae live in various grass species, but he gives no details and I have been unable to locate any other reference to this (e.g. not mentioned by Smith, 1989[2]). Uffen & Chandler (in Stubbs & Chandler, 1978[3]) suggest that this supposed association may result from confusion with Nanna spp.
References
- , 1958. A short synopsis of the British Scatophagidae (Diptera). Transactions of the Society for British Entomology, 13, pp.37-56.
- , 1989. An introduction to the immature stages of British flies. Handbooks for the identification of British Insects, 10(14), pp.1-280.
- , 1978. A Dipterist's Handbook. 1st ed., Hanworth: The Amateur Entomologists' Society.
Widespread and common.
World distribution: Palaearctic: Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland, Russia: eastern Palaearctic; Nearctic: Canada, USA.