Tiny flies mating

[Bruce Williams]

Stony Stratford, Bucks. On fence under willow, ash and sycamore.

Size: see scale bar.

Help with identification appreciated:



Bruce

[JRsbugs]

Bruce, was there carrots nearby?

I had a fly like this earlier in the year, 25th April. It's Psilidae and probably Chamaepsila rosae.

Notice the nice orange carrroty colour? It could be a similar species though.

A google has brought up my images on diptera.info!

Janet

[Bruce Williams]

Thanks Janet.

I had a look at your pics on diptera.info and you're right, they do very, very similar. As far as carrots being close by - well there are allotments about 1/4 mile away - would that be close enough?

Bruce

[JRsbugs]

I don't know Bruce, but I guess as they have wings they might go do their thing then disappear into the woods!

Here you are, all you ever needed to know about carrots!

I know they fly low to the ground, supposedly, and they say they are weak fliers but why they say that I don't know, maybe because they fly low to the ground? That tactic might simply be because carrots grow low to the ground, I really can't imagine a fly not surmounting a 2 foot barrier to carrots when the need to lay their eggs in them! There is also wind which I'm sure flies utilise for travelling, birds do!

The one I got was at least 10 feet up under a Buddleia leaf!

I sometimes wonder if a lot of the 'facts' they give us are not designed to help them sell their products!

[Bruce Williams]

Interesting link Janet. I agree, it's really hard to believe that growing them on tables would fool a hungry fly .

Bruce

[oxycera]

The dark 3rd antennal segment suggests C.nigricornis, though there is a variety of C.rosae that has the same.

[Bruce Williams]

Thanks John - your input is always appreciated .

Bruce