About Zophomyia temula (Scopoli, 1763)
Zophomyia temula can reach an approximate body length of 8–10.5 millimetres (0.31–0.41 inches), with a wingspan of 15–17 mm. These flies have a shiny black coloration on the thorax and abdomen. Legs and all body hairs are also completely black, including the small setulae on the back of the head. This feature is quite unusual within the family Tachinidae. In addition, the eyes of this species are not very large and are only sparsely haired. The body is quite slender and slightly elongated. The legs are relatively long and heavily covered in hair. The wings are mostly transparent, with a distinct yellow-orange coloration at the base. This species is rather similar to Mesembrina meridiana, a member of the Muscidae family. Mesembrina meridiana is characterized by a larger body size and the typical rounded body shape of a true fly. This rather common species has a distribution that covers Europe, and also includes Transcaucasia, Kazakhstan, and South Siberia. These flies preferentially inhabit meadows, woodland, hedgerows, and moist environments, and can usually be found in grass and on low-hanging leaves.
