Subject: Is this a fly?
Location: Mechanicsburg, PA
July 15, 2017 8:22 pm
Hi Bugman!
This guy was hanging out on our deck railing this afternoon. It’s a new one for me and I’d love to know what it is. I’m pretty good about looking things up, but I’m stumped and need the experts. It has fly looking eyes, but those wings are unique. It wouldn’t be a peacock fly with its wings down, would it? (One of those stopped by a couple years ago. First and only sighting.) It was the size of a lightning bug.
Signature: Perplexed in PA
Dear Perplexed in PA,
We believe this unique looking fly is a Marsh Fly, Euthycera arcuata, thanks to this BugGuide image. According to BugGuide: “‘Very distinctive species with a unique closed-wing shape.’ –Bill Murphy.” Of the family, BugGuide notes: “adults around marshes, lakes, ponds, or wooded areas; larvae are aquatic” and “larvae parasitize or prey on freshwater or terrestrial snails.”
Thank you so much! That definitely looks like a match! We do have boggy/marshy areas near our house and I’ve seen snails in certain areas of our yard. That’s so interesting. Some bugs are familiar and easy to spot – seasonal regulars. Others are chance encounters never to be seen again. I love discovering what’s right in my own backyard!