Orange-eyed fly with grey thorax and orange abdomen

[Bruce Williams]

Stockgrove Country Park, Beds. 7th March 2011.

Reminds me of a fly I posted back in January 2010. On that occasion I only had a dorsal shot based on which Jason Green made a tentative id - while requesting a side-on shot to help confirm his thinking. Well this time I only have a side on view so....



Oh and here's a link to the 2010 thread and image: Fly with blue/grey thorax and orange eyes

Bruce

[Lord V]

My first thought was Heleomyzidae but I admit to being fairly bad on fly ids
Brian v.

[Bruce Williams]

Thanks for your suggestion Brian. I have followed it up with the usual Googling and can see where you're coming from with Heleomyzidae.

Bruce

[JRsbugs]

My first thought was also Heleomyzidae, but I can't see any 'vibrissae'

I must admit I'm a little stuck, Lauxaniidae don't have the vibrissae but there are other families and somehow it doesn't look like Lauxaniidae. Maybe try diptera.info?

Janet

[Bruce Williams]

Thanks Janet - I'll try diptera.info later this week.

Bruce

[Lord V]

Originally Posted by JRsbugs

My first thought was also Heleomyzidae, but I can't see any 'vibrissae'

I must admit I'm a little stuck, Lauxaniidae don't have the vibrissae but there are other families and somehow it doesn't look like Lauxaniidae. Maybe try diptera.info?

Janet

ok what are vibrissae ?

Brian v.

[JRsbugs]

Originally Posted by Lord V

ok what are vibrissae ?

Brian v.

They are the stiff whiskery things you see around or above the mouth. Lauxaniidae doesn't have them, Heleomyzidae does, if in doubt between the two families that is a good indication but there are other families which may not have vibrissae.

Recently there has been a lot of shaking up of families, I keep seeing new ones which I'm sure I hadn't seen before! Some seem to have very simialr flies to others, this is where expert knowledge is needed.

Adding that the main thing putting me off Lauxaniidae is those chunky thighs (femora) but it could still belong there. Size is important, most Lauxaniidae are not very big.

[Bruce Williams]

Janet - I assume you mean size of bristles and thighs etc - anyway I'm sure it would be helpful to provide some indication of overall size.

Length of fly is 4mm to tip of abdomen and ~5.3mm to tip of wings.

Bruce

[JRsbugs]

Bruce, I meant the length which doesn't normally include wings.

[JRsbugs]

You know, this is not the 'typical' Sciomyzidae but it does resemble the genus Pherbellia.