Micropeza grallatrix
One of two Micropeza species with extensive areas of yellow on the thorax (cf Micropeza lateralis). They are differentiated by the colour pattern on the thorax and by the colour of the antennal flagellomere
Identification: Thorax: Mesonotum black with no stripes. On the pleura the black fades through chestnut to an upper golden yellow stripe, again fading through chestnut to a lower burnt umber stripe and finally more golden yellow on the lower pleura and all coxae.
Head: No spot on the occiput. Genae pale yellow dusted. Antennae: First antennal flagellomere segment orange to orange-brown. Legs: Hind femur with two black rings
Size: Males 5.5 - 6.5 mm, females 7 - 9 mm (including oviscape)
There are numerous additional images of this species here.
Distribution
Europe: Countries (published), online at Fauna Europaea, Occurrences at GBIF
Unknown but ecologists may wish to explore the possibility of an association with leguminous shrubs (as observed in M lateralis ) which are known to occur in the Sierra Nevada region: Adenocarpus decorticans, Cytisus galianoi, Dorycnium pentaphyllum, Erinacea anthyllis, Genista cinerea, Genista scorpius, Genista umbellata, Genista versicolor and Ulex parviflorus are all native legumes of the mountains of south-eastern Spain (Robles et al., 2006)
From the series of image postings on the Biodiversidad Virtual Invertebrados in which photographers are encouraged to add a habitat note, the following observations were made:
"Mountain, pines of Aleppo pine"; "mountain, almond cultivation and scrub"; "mountain scrub area"; "Mountain holm oak"; "area of scrubland, holm oaks. Montana"; "Ravine with water, in mountain of scrubland"; "Sunny slope on fennel flowers"; "Mount semi-arid"; "mediterranean scrub dominated by rosemary and holm oak in regeneration; some cereal field"; "Vegetation in river margin"; "Mountain ravine, Sierra Nevada"
Summary: Mountain areas, scrubland and vegetated areas close to running water. Spanish stronghold - the Sierra Nevada mountains