Rare tachinids at the OUM

I feel very lucky and privilaged to live close to and have the support of Oxford University Museum (OUM). Friends at the museum have allowed me to use the excellent Hope Entomological Collection on numerous occasions and in return I have tried to help a little by determining a few of their unidentified specimens.

While doing this I came across some very rare species that I had never seen before. All photographs were taken by me but I’d like to give full credit and acknowledge the OUM for giving their permission for me to use them.

The Hope Entomological Collection is the second largest insect collection in the UK – second only to the Natural History Museum in London. It is open to members of the public by appointment and the staff would like to encourage more entomologists to use the collections.

Chetogena acuminata

This was my most exciting discovery by far because this is an exceptionally rare tachinid across northern Europe where it seems to be restricted to tiny populations in sand dune systems along the North Sea and Baltic Sea coasts. It had been recorded in 1929 and 1933 and the 2 specimens I discovered fill the gap because they were caught at the exact-same locality in 1932. Sadly the specimens are in pretty poor condition but the damage seems to have occured a long time ago and doesn’t reflect on the OUM:

Ligeria angusticornis

Another rarity in the UK.

Rondania fasciata

One of my favourite tachinids, from its very distinctive appearance.

Siphona boreata

A very rare species in this very difficult genus.

Dexiomimops pallipes

The last specimen was actually collected by Darren Mann (Assistant Curator of the Hope Collection) while in Pakistan. I attempted to identify some of his specimens but sadly this was the only one that I could get down to species with confidence. Pakistan is a new locality for this species.