Currently viewing the category: "Picture Winged Flies"

Picture Winged Fly

On · Category: Picture Winged Flies · 2 Comments

Subject: SW PA flying bug
Location: SW Pennsylvania
May 21, 2017 7:11 am
Hello!
I have searched for an answer, but alas, have come up empty handed…thus landing on your website for a possible answer.
This insect is plentiful in my yard outside of Pittsburgh. When it lands, it gently open and closes it’s wings. It doesnt appear to be aggressive, but Im wondering if it harms plants? Or does it fees off other insects?
Signature: Thanks for your time!

Picture Winged Fly

This is a Picture Winged Fly, Delphinia picta, and according to BugGuide:  “Breeds in decaying organic matter, such as compost” so we are suspecting you have a compost pile.

Wow, thank you!  Still a bit odd because we have no compost pile!  But we are surrounded by woods, so I guess there’s always things rotting somewhere.
Thanks again!!!

Related posts:

Two Picture Winged Flies including Black Onion Fly and a Signal Fly Picture Winged Fly Picture Winged Fly Possible Picture Winged Fly from The Congo

Picture Winged Fly

On · Category: Picture Winged Flies · Add Comment

Subject: Odd fly/wasp
Location: Charles Town, WV
August 11, 2016 9:06 am
Found in garden near Charles Town WV. What is it?
My neighbor found it, she is a Bee Keeper hoping this isn’t some weird bee thing!
Signature: Becky

Picture Winged Fly

Picture Winged Fly

Dear Becky,
This is a female Picture Winged Fly, Delphinia picta, and what appears to be a stinger is actually her ovipositor, as is evident in these BugGuide images.  According to BugGuide:  “Breeds in decaying organic matter, such as compost” and if your neighbor has bees and is an avid gardener, we suspect there is a nearby compost pile that Picture Winged Flies might find attractive.

Wow! Thank you very much! Yes, she does have garden compost. She will definitely appreciate this info.
Becky

Related posts:

Two Picture Winged Flies including Black Onion Fly and a Signal Fly Picture Winged Fly Picture Winged Fly Possible Picture Winged Fly from The Congo

Possible Picture Winged Fly from The Congo

On · Category: Fruit Flies, Picture Winged Flies · Add Comment

Subject: Unidentifiable fly
Location: Republic of Congo (Odzala NP)
July 7, 2016 1:42 am
For almost a year now I have been trying to identify this fly. Still, I have not found what species it is. My guess is that it belongs to the Ulidiidae, but I am not sure. Does anyone have an idea what species this fly could be? I photographed it in the Republic of the Congo
Signature: Daniel Nelson

Possibly Picture Winged Fly

Possibly Picture Winged Fly

Dear Daniel,
We agree that this could be a Picture Winged Fly in the family Ulidiidae, but we would seriously consider expanding the possibilities to include the superfamily Tephritoidea that includes Ulidiidae.  The perspective of your image, while quite artful, is not ideal for identification purposes if considered alone.  We once recall reading that four different views are helpful in identifying Robber Flies:  dorsal, lateral, head showing eyes and one other view that currently escapes our memory.  Alas, we cannot locate where we read that.  Furthermore, while quite pretty, many small flies do not command the same attention as large and showy butterflies, moths and beetles that are all much better represented on the internet.  Species from Africa are far less well documented on the internet than North American, Australian and British species.  We feel if you are only depending upon the internet, exact species identification based on this single image might not be possible.  With all that stated, we are posting your gorgeous image and we appeal to our readership to provide comments with any suggestions they may have.

Related posts:

PIcture Winged Fly from South Africa Picture Winged Fly Picture Winged Fly Picture Winged Fly

Picture Winged Fly

On · Category: Picture Winged Flies · Add Comment

Subject: Unusual flying bug
Location: Teaneck, nj
September 20, 2015 11:53 am
Please help me identify this creature. I have only recently noticed them hanging out in my yard
Signature: Mark

Picture Winged Fly

Picture Winged Fly

Dear Mark,
Your Picture Winged Fly is Delphinia picta, which you can verify by comparing your individual to this image on BugGuide.  According to BugGuide, it:  “Breeds in decaying organic matter, such as compost” so if you have a compost pile, that might explain their sudden appearance.

Related posts:

Picture Winged Fly: Idana marginata Picture Winged Fly Picture Winged Fly Picture Winged Fly

PIcture Winged Fly from South Africa

On · Category: Fruit Flies, Picture Winged Flies · Add Comment

Subject: what insec
Location: standerton, south africa
August 29, 2015 9:17 am
I have never seen this insect before, living in the same town for 30 years….
Signature: solene

PIcture Winged Fly

PIcture Winged Fly

Hi Solene,
This reminded us of a Fruit Fly in the family Tephritidae, so we searched iSpot for South African species, and though we did not find an exact match, we did find several images that looked very similar, including this iSpot posting, though it is only identified to the family level.  The common name for the family in South Africa is Picture Winged Fly, but that same name is used on iSpot for the family Ulidiidae as well.  We are confident that in South Africa, Picture Winged Fly is an appropriate name for your individual, though we cannot say for certain to which family it belongs.

Related posts:

Possible Picture Winged Fly from The Congo Fruit Fly Picture Winged Fly Picture Winged Fly

Picture Winged Fly reported to have bitten child

On · Category: Picture Winged Flies · 5 Comments

Subject: This type of bug bit my 1yr old
Location: NJ
July 20, 2015 4:17 pm
Hi,
I am trying to find out what type of bug this is. It bit my 1yr old on the side of his head and he swelled up instantly and pretty severly. We took him to the doctor and they put him on antibiotics as a precaution.
Signature: Jeremy Lynch

PIcture Winged Fly

PIcture Winged Fly

Dear Jeremy,
We are surprised to learn that you suspect this Picture Winged Fly, Delphinia picta, of biting your child.  Are you certain this is the culprit?  If you are correct, this is the first we have ever heard of a person being bitten by a Picture Winged Fly, though Eric Eaton once informed us that “if it has a mouth, it can bite.”  You can get additional information on the Picture Winged Fly at BugGuide.

Related posts:

Picture Winged Fly Default ThumbnailFanmail and Confusing Comment Picture Winged Fly Peacock Fly