Unknown fly
Location: Philadlephia, PA
August 30, 2010 4:19 pm
I’ve had a bunch of these flies in my yard for the past couple of years. I’ve tried to find out what kind of fly this is on my own with out any luck. In fact, trying to I.D. this fly on my own is part of what led me to your site.
Sadly, my camera gave me a hard time with focusing on this fly, so I was only able to get this one picture before it became annoyed with me and flew off. I was hoping that you’d be able to help me I.D. it.
Dave
Picture Winged Fly
Hi Dave,
This is a Picture Winged Fly in the family Ulidiidae. The species Delphinia picta does not have a common name. According to BugGuide , it: “Breeds in decaying organic matter, such as compost.”
¶ Posted 31 August 2010 § ‡ ° Hornet fly?
Location: Athens, GA
August 29, 2010 5:16 pm
This poor fellow flew into our rain barrel and I searched online to find anything like it, but had no luck. I feel like it’s some sort of fly, but neither the deer flies, horse flies, snipe flies or syrphid flies here looked like it. What the heck is this thing?
It’s about 1.5-2inches long.
Heather
Drowned Red Footed Cannibalfly
Hi Heather,
Now that we have looked at the full sized file of your Robber Fly, we have realized it is our featured Bug of the Month, the Red Footed Cannibalfly.
Immediately after hitting ‘send’ on my email, I noticed that too! I rushed outside to scoop the poor thing out of the water (since anything that eats wasps is a good bug in my book), but it didn’t move. I then remembered something I read online earlier this week about how pouring salt on a seemingly drowned fly will sometimes suck the water out of it and revive it. I quickly grabbed the salt shaker and covered it in salt, then shook it around in a dish. After about 15 minutes, it crawled right out of the pile of salt and staggered away!
Thanks for featuring it on your highly informative site, otherwise I would have never known it was savable.
Heather Lickliter
fly-like bug in Maine
Location: Maine
August 28, 2010 7:44 pm
I took this picture of a fly-like bug on an Asiatic Dayflower while hiking in Maine. Can you help me identify this bug?
Sally
Bee Fly
Hi Sally,
This really is a beautiful Bee Fly. Though we could not identify the exact species, we found a match on BugGuide that was identified to the genus level of Poecilognathus.
Some kind of fly
Location: Portugal
August 27, 2010 3:12 pm
Hi,
I found this fly on my bean plants the other day. No idea what it is. Can you help me identifying it?
Dania
Feather-Legged Fly
Hi Dania,
We started to try to identify your fly on BugGuide before we realized you were writing from Portugal. Your insect is a close match to the Feather-Legged Fly Trichopoda pennipes, and we suspect it is closely related. Feather-Legged Flies are Tachinid Flies and according to BugGuide: “Adults feed on nectar, larvae are internal parasites of true bugs. Life Cycle: Adult female lays one to several eggs on a hemipteran host. The larvae hatch from the eggs and burrow directly into the bug’s body, though only one larva will survive within each host. The larva feeds on the host internally and eventually a large cream-colored maggot exits from body of the bug (which soon dies). The maggot pupates in a dark reddish-brown puparium in the soil and emerges as an adult about two weeks later. There are up to three generations a year depending on location, and larvae may overwinter in the bodies of overwintering hosts.“ BugGuide also indicates: “Often used as biological control of hemipteran pest species such as squash bugs, stink bugs, and plant bugs. May hover above squash plants in search of prey. According to Paul Beuk it has been ‘introduced into Europe and is now frequently spotted in the south. Its exotic appearance has dumbfounded many a European entomologist.‘“ That final statement implies that Feather-Legged Flies are not native to Europe, so this fly may be a North American species afterall. Your beautiful images are a wonderful addition to our archives.
Feather-Legged Fly
Thanks, Daniel.
That’s very interesting. I was quite intrigued by it since I had never seen anything like that before. Now I’m curious as to how common they are around here, I will certainly be paying more attention from now on. Thanks again.
¶ Posted 27 August 2010 § ‡ ° WTB?
Location: israel
August 23, 2010 7:25 am
hi in need help this bug to sting me
and send me to the hospital
Signature: email
Louse Fly
Dear email,
This is a Louse Fly in the family Hippoboscidae. Louse Flies usually prey upon birds. They land on a host and shed their wings after which thy look similar to a louse.
IDENTIFICATION
Location: Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada
August 27, 2010 11:51 am
This insect was seen flying in jewelweed beside a marshy area. It can be seen quite well in the photos, however, when in flight, this fragile bug is very difficult to focus on given how transparent it is. It was first spotted in July & was still in evidence in early August. We started to refer to these little creatures as ”the fairies” due to their ethereal appearance.
Anne
Phantom Crane Fly
Hi Anne,
It is believed that the markings and coloration of the Phantom Crane Fly enable it to avoid predation as it seems to disappear and reappear as it feebly flies through the sun dappled habitat it prefers.
Phantom Crane Fly
Daniel -
Thank you so much for this information. We were all quite intrigued by this dear little fellow and it’s kind of fun to be able to put a name to him.
Your prompt response is very much appreciated.
Anne
Large Fly
Location: Death Valley, California
August 27, 2010 4:33 am
We encountered some large – about 20cm long – flies in death valley, california whilst on holiday there. We were walking along a trail next to a dry creek. The flies were black and light grey and one landed on my back and penetrated my shirt so that I felt a pinch. Just curious as to what they are.
Andy
Western Horse Fly
Hi Andy,
You may compare your image of a Western Horse Fly, Tabanus punctifer, to images posted to BugGuide, but there is no information on the specifics of the species. You may, however, read about Horse Flies in general on the genus page of BugGuide. Only the female Horse Flies bite and suck blood from warm blooded animals. Charles Hogue, in his excellent book Insects of the Los Angeles Basis, writes extensively about the Western Horse Fly. He observes: “The adults are large robust flies nearly 3/4 inch (20mm) in body length. The male possesses very large eyes, which meet on the midline of the head, making it appear to be nearly all eye; the back of the thorax is black except for a fringe of white hairs along the side and rear borders. The female differs in that the eyes are separated and the back of the thorax is all white or pale cream.” Your photo is that of a female, hence the bite through your shirt. The larvae of the Western Horse Fly develop in water, so even though your email indicates this sighting was in Death Valley, we suspect it may have been close to either Salt Creek or Devil’s Hole. Hogue has additional information: “Because they possess a voraious appetite for the blood of horses and cattle, the female flies may be extremely bothersome, especially when numerous. They have been observed biting rhinoceroses, tapirs, and hippopotamuses at the Los Angeles Zoo. They occasionally bite humans, with painful results. Natural saccharine fluids, such as fruit juices and nectar from flowers nourish the nonbiting males and also serve as a diet supplement for the females.”
¶ Posted 27 August 2010 § ‡ ° Bot Fly?
Bot Fly
Bot Fly?
Location: Puyallup, WA
August 24, 2010 12:21 am
After doing research on your site, I’m pretty sure this is a Female Bot Fly. What I don’t know is what type? Rodent, Rabbit, or Squirrel. I have to say after reading about them, I’m fairly grossed out. This one was buzzing around in my livingroom window. After letting her go, she hung around long enough for me to take pictures.
Your site is great! Thanks, bettyluvsduncan
Bot Fly
Dear bettyluvsduncan,
You did a very fine job identifying this unusual fly as a Bot Fly in the family Oestridae. We believe it is Cuterebra tenebrosa based on its dark coloration and matching it to images posted to BugGuide. According to BugGuide: “Hosts include Neotoma cinerea and N. lepida.“ The genus Neotoma contains Woodrats or Packrats (See link).
Bot Fly
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