Sepsis punctum (Fabricius, 1794)

Patrick T. Rohner & Gerhard Bächli, 2016, Faunistic data of Sepsidae (Diptera) from Switzerland and additional countries including the first Swiss record of Meroplius fukuharai (Iwasa, 1984), Mitteilungen der Schweizerischen Entomologischen Gesellschaft 89, pp. 237-260 : 253-254

Sepsis punctum (Fabricius, 1794)

Material: Switzerland: AG:Aristau, 400 m, iii.1975, vii.1975 (leg. Wunderlich); Rheinfelden, 300 m, 12.vi.2010; Sarmenstorf, 550 m, 16.viii.2004 (leg. Wermelinger). BE:Ruppoldsried, 500 m, iv.–x.1987 (leg. Duelli). BL:Bubendorf, 3.– 10.viii.2000, 10.–17.viii.2000, 24.–31.viii.2000 (all leg. Wolf). FR:Nuvilly, 650 m, 2005 (leg. Duelli). GE:Bernex/Signal, 510 m, 8.viii.2000 (leg. Merz &Bächli); Chancy, 350 m, 25.vii.2004; Jussy/Prés de Villette, 475 m, 8.viii.2000 (leg. Merz &Bächli); Russin/Biolay; 360 m; 9.viii.2000 (leg. Merz &Bächli). GL:Richisau, 1100 m, 7.–8.viii.1991. GR:Lenzerheide, 1520 m, 8.viii.1998; Saas, 900 m, 8.viii.2010. JU:La Chaux-des-Breuleux, 1000 m, 28.vi.2003. LU:Dierikon, 550 m, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005 (all leg. Duelli); Luzern, 550 m, 10.vi.2006; 24.vi.– 5.viii.2006 (leg. Sattler). SO:Mariastein, 350 m, 21.–26.vii.1973; Messen, 500 m, 15.iii.2004, 26.vii.2004, 23.viii.2004, 30.viii.2004 (all leg. Wermelinger); Weissenstein, 1000 m, 25.vi.2006. TG:Roggwil, 420 m, 2001 (leg. Duelli); Weinfelden/Ochsenfurt, 450 m, 29.v.1999. TI:Acquarossa, 530 m, 17.–20.vii.1998; Biasca, 300 m, 16.–20.vi.1995, 7.–11.viii.1997; Bolle di Magadino, 200 m, 19.vi.1995; Lugano, 24.vi.–5.viii.2006 (leg. Sattler); Origlio, 420 m, 13.vii.1988; Robiei, 1900 m, 4.–5.vii.2008; Val Bavona, 600 m, 27.vii.1997. VS:Grône/Poutafontana, 500 m, 1.vii.2001; Leuk/Brentjong, 1000 m, 25.vi.1999; Leuk/Platten; 600 m, 22.vii.2004; 1.viii.1998 (leg. Merz &Bächli); Pfynwald, 580 m, 30.vi.–4.vii.2001. ZH:Andelfingen, 400 m, 31.v.1972 (leg. Glatthaar); Dietikon, 390, 14.v.2015, 6.vi.2015, 13.vi.1991, 3.–8.vii.2000, 3.–10.viii.1984, 5.viii.1989; Flaach, 350 m, 30.vi.2000, 22.vii.1996; Uitikon, 540 m, 2005 (leg. Duelli); Wettswil/Ölerde, 650 m, 26.vi.2011; Zürich, 450 m, 24.vi.–5.viii.2006 (leg. Sattler); Zürich/Hönggerberg, 520 m, 29.vi.–3.vii.1999, 14.–19.vii.1988, 14.–18.vii.1995, 15.–19.vii.1989, 16.– 20.vii.1986, 18.–23.vii.1990, 24.–28.vii.1987; Zürich/Irchelpark, 550 m, 6.v.– 28.vi.1986.

Austria:Purgstall, 400 m, 16.–31.vii.1977 (leg. Hüttinger). B osnia/Herzegovina: Dobro Polje, 1100 m, 25.–28.vii.1984. Czech Republic:Borova Lada, 900 m, 25.viii.1998; Hluboka n.V., 450 m, 20.viii.1998; Val/Veseli n.L., 19.viii.1998. Romania:Brosleni, 800 m, 8.vi.1984; Bucuresti, 16.vii.1986; Calimani, 1700 m, 30.vi.1976; Cimpulung, 600 m, 23.v.1981, 25.v.1981, 13.vi.1976, 17.vii.1975, 22.vii.1976, 12.viii.1981, 22.viii.1980, 27.ix.1976, 22.x.1981; 700 m, 6.vi.1976, 21.vii.1975, 2.viii.1962, 29.viii.1981; 800 m, 15.vi.1986, 3.viii.1975, 16.viii.1987, 27.ix.1975; 900 m, 6.vi.1976; Codz. Voiv., 500 m, 21.vi.1984; Cornetu, 9.iv.1981, 13.iv.1981, 26.iv.1985, 26.v.1985, 10.vi.1981, 15.vi.1981, 16.vi.1981, 18.vii.1981, 5.viii.1981, 24.ix.1981; Frasin, 500 m, 21.vi.1984; Meslecani, 1200 m, 18.vii.1981; Snagov, 17.ix.1976; Stampei, 1000 m, 26.vii.1976; Val. Pulnei, 900 m, 26.v.1980, 1.viii.1980, 2.viii.1981;1000 m, 10.vii.1982 (all leg. Ceianu). Serbia:Beograd, 100 m, 2.–6.vii.1995 (leg. Keki Ć); Popovica, 500 m, 1.–3.viii.1980. Turkey:Samsun, 50 m, 14.–16.vii.1962; Trabzon, 50 m, 8.–10.vii.1962 (all leg. Götz).

Distribution:Holarctic, Neotropical, Oriental ( Ozerov 2005).

Comments:Apparently the first record from Liechtenstein. This species can be found on cow pastures, but is more abundant in parks and at lake-shores. S. punctum reproduces in all kinds of animal dung and other decaying substrates, but seems to be particularly attracted to dog excrements. In Switzerland, males are larger than females (which is not the case in North American populations: Puniamoorthy et al.

2012) and range in colour from dark brown to partially bright yellow/orange. Intrasexual aggression is commonly observed between males, whereafter larger males are more likely to mate with afemale ( Puniamoorthy et al. 2012).