Armoured brown Fly ID ?

Paintboy · #1 (**permalink**) 19-10-2009, 05:12 PM

Hello,

I cannot seem to ID a type of fly which i have noticed. Its around 8 - 10 mm . When it lands on clothing it stays very static and is a hard to flick off, you have to give it a really hard flick !

It seems to have a shiney armoured body parts if that sounds strange and has wings. Its not a beetle as the wings are transultant just like most flys.

Colour : Shiney brownish
Size : 8-10 mm
Location : woodland - near a stream.

Any ideas to what it is and if its a biter ?

Many thanks

John

Jason Claxton · #2 (**permalink**) 19-10-2009, 05:15 PM

Could it be a Deerfly?

Paintboy · #3 (**permalink**) 19-10-2009, 05:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jason Claxton

Could it be a Deerfly?

Hi Jason,

Thanks for the quick reply, nope dosen't look like a deer fly

Cheers

John

ChrisR · #4 (**permalink**) 19-10-2009, 05:21 PM

Jason's suggestion sounds good to me ... does the fly sit very flat with legs sticking out the sides? Deer Ked flies are common in woodlands in late summer & autumn. Though they don't bite humans very often they can be a nuisance and have the repulsive habit of crawling into your hair etc. I am told that they wait a long time before biting.

Jason Claxton · #5 (**permalink**) 19-10-2009, 05:24 PM

If it is Lipoptena cervi it will appear flat and louse like,and yes it is a biter.Also look at Forest-fly Hippobosca equina,which is larger.

Paintboy · #6 (**permalink**) 19-10-2009, 05:29 PM

Yep sorry your spot on i just googled it ! , hmmmm it bites, not so good to know ! As 4 of them landed my top and trousers today which i thankfully quicky flicked off !!

Hmmm time to get out the bug juice me thinks

Thanks guys for the help, much appricated

John

ChrisR · #7 (**permalink**) 19-10-2009, 05:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paintboy

Yep sorry your spot on i just googled it ! , hmmmm it bites, not so good to know ! As 4 of them landed my top and trousers today which i thankfully quicky flicked off !!

Hmmm time to get out the bug juice me thinks

Might be a wise precaution but I did a few days collecting over in Russia and the locals didn't worry about them much, even though their forests are absolutely infested with biting insects, including Keds. While wandering about I had 3 or 4 land on the back of my neck and crawl up under my hat into my hair. None of them bit me though and Russians I spoke to said they can wait up to an hour - preferring to get comfy before biting their host