Australian Robber Fly
(11/10/2005) a strange bug from central australia
Hi Bugman,
We found this funny looking creature at our chook shed this morning. I thought it looked like Darth Vader! It has a very orange upper abdomen which it flashes when beating wings. It also has hairy and very long legs. It was about 5cm long. It has a proboscus like a cicada... My girlfriend thinks its a cicada...I think it's a Star Wars character..! Help
Jay and Ada - Alice Springs, Australia



Hi Jay and Ada,
This swift flying predator is a Robber Fly. By the way, one of our favorite books is Ada by Vladimir Nabokov and it has hundreds of insect references.

Robber Fly eats Dragonfly
(11/07/2005) me again:)
I found this predator while walking in the upstate ny woods. I was looking for butter and dragon flies with my camera in hand and this wasp-looking thing landed in front of me then quickly flew off. What bug catches an aeronautic master like the dragonfly.(if that's what is being eaten) 
Thanks,
torch



Hi again Torch,
This is an amazing image of a Robber Fly. These winged predators might have dragonflies beat when it comes to aeronatic maneuvering.

Black Horse Fly
(10/15/2005) black fly/bee thing
Hey,
This insect came in through an open door today in League City, Texas.   It buzzed like a huge bee but looked more like a giant fly.  It wouldn't hold still very well for pictures but was pretty much all black..... body, wings, legs... pure black.  It was approximately 1.5 inches long and had a huge mouth or nose area that appeared to expand in width and then be slim again = like a point you wouldn't want to be poked with. Thanks for the help.
Leslie



Hi Leslie,
We are checking with Eric Eaton to see if he can identify the species of Black Horse Fly you photographed. It is in the genus Tabanus and females are blood suckers that bite painfully.

Update from Eric Eaton: (10/16/2005)
"Pretty sure this IS T. atratus.  Don't know of any other very large, all-black species.  This one is a female (males have HUGE eyes that meet in the middle (top) of the head.  This species is thought to be the Tlue-Tail Fly of folksong fame. Eric"

Louse Fly
(10/11/2005) These were all over me. Is this a parasite?
My last two weeks in the woods backpacking, I have been finding these bugs all over me and in my gear. Some of them have wings so I didn't think they were ticks, but I have no idea if they are another type of parasite or just looking for warm moist places to hang out. Another intersting thing is that something about their legs allows them to grip clothing, so they do not fall off of anyhting. Maybe some kind of hair or barb? Any help?
Patrick



Hi Patrick,
This is a Louse Fly in the Family Hippoboscidae. They are winged but have feeble wings that drop off after they land on a host, usually a deer, where they suck blood and live as ectoparasites.

Mating Flies
(10/08/2005) Buzz Buzz
Hello Again!
Love the site!  Took this picture of a mantis that's been around for a while and was wondering if you guys could tell me what's happening. Is she about to lay some eggs? Is she dying?    Also, inspired by all the 'intimate' moments I see posted, I have sent a picture I just took of two flies in the throes...
Enjoy!
Thanks,
Dina



Hi Dina,
Your mantis photo is too blurry to post, but she does look like she is going to lay eggs. Hopefully she isn't egg bound. Love the mating fly photo.

Large Bee Fly
(09/30/2005) What's this fly?
Hi,
I have sent you a couple of pics a while back and I believe I have found the names of two of the three unknown; a yellow jacket and a bald face hornet. I have not found the name of this little fly yet. I am sending three pictures of this little creature that let me observe it while it was collecting pollen from Aster flowers. It let me get real close; my macro gear needs to be 8-9 inches from the subject for a picture like the face shot.  I landed on your site while I was searching for names of insects I observed; it's now in my favorites and I visit it on a daily basis to see the new posts. I hope you can identify this little fly.
Guy Côté
Montréal, Qc.



Hi Guy,
Sorry to have not answered your first letter. On busy days we get as many as 50 letters and can only answer about four or five. We choose at random. This is a Large Bee Fly in the genus Bombylius. Adults drink nectar and larva is a parasite in the nest of solitary bees.

Yellowjacket Hover Fly
(09/24/2005) Bee-like hummingbird moth from central Missouri.
Hello there!  
My wife and I were reading quietly on a nice Saturday afternoon when we noticed a strange buzzing noise coming from the patio.  When we went to look we saw this fellow darting through the air.  Its wings moved so fast that we couldn't see them when it was in flight.  At first we were afraid it may be a stinger, but after watching its behavior we recognized it as a hummingbird moth.  While taking photographs it started hovering around observing us!  After a couple more minutes it darted off like a bullet.  What a beauty!
Thanks!
Ryan Wolf from Columbia Missouri



Hello Ryan,
We were pleasantly surprised when we opened your attachment. We have no shortage of Hummingbird Moth photos, but your image is a new species for us. This is not a moth but a fly. To be more exact, it is a Yellowjacket Hover Fly, Milesia virginiensis. Thank you for adding to our archive.

Lovebugs
(09/22/2005) Love Bug Threesome
I see hundreds of Florida Love Bugs every day this time of year (mainly on my windshield) but I have never seen them having a threesome. Do they compete for mates when they are already attached?
Mark



Hi Mark,
There is always competition for mates in the animal kingdom. We imagine the spurned suitor is hoping for some opportunity.

Mydas Fly
(09/15/2005) Mydas Fly
WTB,
I have had this huge flying insect run me out of my flower beds for the past couple of years.  I saw it attack a Digger Wasp in my vegetable garden last year!  I am pretty sure it is a Mydas Fly, but I would like to know a little bit more information on it.  What does it do?  Does it sting?  LOL 
Monica Ragsdale



Hi again Monica,
This is a Mydas Fly, Mydas clavatus. The adults are predatory, feeding on caterpillars, other flies, bees and true bugs. I guess with your observation, we can add wasps to the menu. Also, your photo implies that they also feed on nectar which many flies do. Larvae live in rotting wood and probably feed on beetle larvae. Flies do not sting, but they will probably bite if mishandled.

Mating Florida Love Bugs
(09/09/2005) Florida Love bugs
Found your site and love it. Great pictures and information! I noticed that you do not have pictures of the Florida Love bug. I am sending you one of a male and one of the male and female in the way they are found most often. If I am able to get one of the female alone I will send that also but so far I have not found one. They are just now coming into season, October and May I think are the times they fly and make a real nuisance of themselves.
Yvonne Griffiths
Morriston, Florida



Thank You Yvonne,
We just love getting new species and new additions to our Love Among the Bugs page. How appropo that these flies are called Love Bugs. Plecia nearctica belongs to the Family Bibionidae. They are often hazardous to motorists because of their sheer numbers on roadways. Here is an excellent site with much information.

Long Legged Fly attacked by Fungus
(08/31/2005) whats this bug?
Hi,
My husband and I live in central Florida. We have a few hot pepper plants, a couple days ago we noticed this little guy sitting on a leaf. Can you tell us what it is? Thanks a bunch,
Kim



Hi Kim,
That fly will probably be sitting there for a long time. It has been consumed by fungus. We turned to Eric Eaton for a fly identification. Here is his response: "The fly is a longlegged fly, family Dolichopodidae, probably a Condylostylus. Eric"

Beelike Tachinid Fly
(08/29/2005) One ugly fly
I looked through your site but did not find this fly anywhere.  What is it? It was found buzzing around in Point Lobos State Park, near Carmel, CA.
Thanks,
-matt



Hi Matt,
This is a new species for our site. It is a Beelike Tachinid Fly, Bombyliopsis abrupta. The adults drink nectar, and the larvae are internal parasites on caterpillars.

Mydas Fly	Katydid

Hanging Thief
(08/19/2005) robber fly
This robber fly was perched on the window seal at The Oyster House on Mobile Bay, and was really freaking out the wait staff there. I assured them this was no giant mosquito that would suck them dry in one bite.
Bill Giles
Powder Springs GA



Hi Bill,
This is one of the Robber Flies in the genus Diogmites, the Hanging Thieves.

Western Black Horse Fly
(08/16/2005) Fly of some sort
Found this fellow in my backyard in residential Victoria BC.  Was at least 2 to 2.5cm long. I've never seen one of these before but suspect it's some sort of horsefly. Great site by the way.
Terry



Hi Terry,
You are correct. This is the Western Black Horse Fly, Tabanus punctifer. Females bite and drink blood from large mammals including man. Males, are identified by the eyes which appear to be joined at the top of the head. We turned to Eric Eaton for substantiation. Here is his response: "What a magnificent image!  Wow.  Would love to see this posted to BugGuide.  It is a western horese fly, and a female.  Males have holoptic eyes (essentially contiguous over the top of the head).  Really fresh specimen. Thanks for sharing this one. Eric"

Black Soldier Fly
(08/14/2005) Mydas Fly?
Hi,
I just found your site, while trying to identify this fly we found in our house.  It looks like a mydas fly from your other pictures, however this has distinctive black and white legs…any ideas?
Colin



Hi Colin,
This is actually the Black Soldier Fly, Hermetia illucens.  They DO resemble mydas flies at first glance.

Mydas Fly
(08/13/2005) Huge Fly!
I just discovered your site because I was trying to identify a giant fly that we discovered yesterday in our fireplace. Nice site! Thankfully, this fly was behind the doors of the fireplace. It was in the around 90F yesterday so he didn't live long in there and I got a chance to photo him today. I don't keep the flu open, so I'm trying to figure out how he got in there. I do not see any flies on your site that look like this one. Attached are three photos. Hopefully the 'perspective' photo gives you an idea of his size.
Chris
by the way, I am in New Jersey.



Hi Chris,
Because of the large size and the clubbed antennae, we believe this to be a Mydas Fly in the Family Mydidae. Adults are predatory, feeding on caterpillars, flies, bees and Hemipterans. Though we are 99% sure this is a Mydas Fly, we are checking with Eric Eaton for a second opinion.

Ed. Note: Here is Eric Eaton's quick response.
"That certainly is a mydas fly!  Is the image in black and white?  If so, it could be Mydas tibialis, which has no red band like M. clavatus, but has orange legs on a dark brown/black body. Mydas flies seem to be attracted to large, standing, hollow trees, so it might have mistaken the chimney for a tree and flown in.  Flues do not close tightly enough to exclude insects is my bet, and so the thing made it all the way to the fireplace.  They sure are intimidating, the loud droning buzz alone being quite ominous!   Luckily they are harmless to people. Eric "

Featherlegged Tachinid Fly
(07/29/2005) flies or bees?
flies or bees? i'm guessing flies by the eyes.  are they similar because they hold their wings out straight? both about 1/2 inch long.
Bennett



Hi Bennett,
We wrote to Eric Eaton to try to get a species name for your fascinating fly. Here is his response: " Yes, that is a featherlegged tachinid fly in the genus Trichopoda.  They are parasites of leaf-footed bugs and squash bugs, rarely stink bugs. Those raised white spots on the head or thorax of a leaf-footed bug are the eggs of this and related species in the genus. Eric"

Mating Phorid Flies
(07/28/2005) Flies for your "Bug Love" page.
I found these flies vigorously engaging in bug love last month in Atlanta, GA. They're very small and belong to the f amily Phoridae. I'm not sure of the exact species because flies in this family are very hard to identify. Thought you'd like to see the photo.
Bill DuPree
Atlanta, GA



Hi again Bill,
We always enjoy getting interesting photos from you and this is one of the best. Thanks for allowing us to post it.

Small Headed Fly: Lasia purpurata Bequaert
(07/22/2005) What is this insect?
While taking pictures of "butterfly weed" I noticed an odd/unusual flying insect which appeared to me to be a cross between a hummingbird and beetle. It was hard shelled and perhaps about the size of a nickel or quarter. Clear colored wings, metallic/iridescence looking colors of black, blue and green, (depending on the light source perhaps), golden colored eyes, no antennas that I could see, six legs and a very long proboscis. I've searched my field guides and nothing comes close. What is this insect? I live in North Central Arkansas. Thank you,
Kay Biggerstaff



Hi Kay,
We thought this might be a Bee Fly, but has never seen anything like it. So ... as we always do when in doubt, we turn to Eric Eaton. Here is his excited response: "Holy moly!  What a proboscis!  I am pretty sure this is a small-headed fly in the family Acroceridae.  They are not terribly common.  Larvae are internal parasites of spiders, but usually have to crawl around looking for a host after mom deposits her eggs in spider habitat. Trapdoor spiders are often the victims.  I'd love to see this posted to BugGuide, as I believe it would be a whole new family for that site. I hate to ask that, everytime you send a cool image, but that is what BugGuide is for.  The more diversity there, the more helpful it is to people wondering what their mystery bug is:-) I appreciate your indulgence in forwarding such requests to the submitters.  Thank you. Eric" If they are so rare, it is great to see them perpetuating the species. So Kay, if you don't mind, I would like to submit the image to BugGuide as well.

Update (06/01/2006)
Lasia purpurata Bequaert
Wow! This fly is quite rare in collections. It is Lasia purpurata Bequaert, which has been recorded from Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Texas.
Norm Woodley

Mydas Fly
(07/22/2005) Please help ID this late-night bug :)
Hi folks!  We spotted this wasp/moth tonight in our porch light and were wondering if you could help us ID it.  We are in East Texas - Humble, to be exact. Thank you for any assistance you can give us!
Michael-Ann Belin & Jade Delorme
Humble, Texas



Hi Michael-Ann Belin & Jade Delorme
We just love getting new critters for our database. This is a Mydas Fly, Family Mydidae. Your species looks like Mydas clavatus. Adults are predatory and resemble wasps or robber flies. Adults eat caterpillars, other flies, bees, and true bugs. Larvae prey upon insects in the soil, especially June Beetle larvae. Though this fly appears sluggish, it is a rapid flier.

Xenox tigrinus Mating
(07/21/2005) mating moths?
i just found these two in a hanging flower basket on my porch in the hudson valley, NY.  What are they?
Bennett



Hi Bennett,
Not moths, but mating flies. We contacted Eric Eaton when we couldn't find your insects on BugGuide. Here is what he has to say: "This is a pair of mating bee flies, Xenox tigrinus.  Nice insects, much larger than Eurosta.  Xenox are parasites of large carpenter bees. Eric "

American Horsefly
(07/21/2005) Green Eyed Bug
Two of these showed up this morning. They are at least an inch long, (although it looked a lot bigger when it landed on my leg!)
Thanks, Rich Armstrong
North Stonington, CT



Hi Rich,
Luckily you didn't get bitten by the American Horsefly, Tabanus americanus. It is usually found near swamps, marshes and ponds. Male eats pollen and nectar but the female takes blood from large mammals, including man. According to the Audubon Guide: "When the female bites, the wound inflicted often continues to bleed for several minutes because the fly's saliva contains an anticoagulant that prevents clotting. A single animal may suffer a debilitating loss of blood if many of these insects attack it."

Bee Fly
(07/20/2005) Bug identity ????
Couple of summers ago this was found flying around us on the deck in Prospect , Ontario, Canada. Harmless , I think...It was on my hand without incident. Any Ideas ?
Mike



Hi Mike,
We knew it was a fly, and suspected it was a pollen feeding species, but we really had to go to Eric Eaton for something more concrete. He quickly got back with this reply: "Another fine image!  This is a pristine specimen of a bee fly in the genus Lepidophora.  We have images at BugGuide.net that I think are identified to species (there aren't very many species in the genus). Very nice:-) Eric" We took Eric's advice and checked out BugGuide where we found this beauty identified as Lepidophora lutea.

The Thing from Missouri is possibly a Soldier Fly Larva
(07/19/2005) have you seen one of these?
attached is a odd bug we found out walking in Missouri, we have never seen one before, wondered if you knew what it is?
jamy



Hi Jamy,
This was new to us, but we suspected some type of Aquatic Fly larva. Eric Eaton confirmed our suspicion: "Ok, I am pretty sure this is the larva of a soldier fly of some kind (family Stratiomyidae), and the "ovipositor" is actually a breathing tube.  This thing should have been found in an aquatic, or at least very soggy, environment.  In any event, it is most certainly a fly larva of some sort. Eric"

Long-Legged Fly
(07/11/2005) Hi,
It's been so hot & humid it's hard to stay out for long enough to spot any interesting bugs. And they're all hiding in the shade, so I went for things I don't usually try to photograph because they're so tiny, or so common. (My little Canon Powershot A60 was at its closeup limit trying to capture these 1/4 in long flies.) I don't know what any of these bugs are.
Love, Marian



Hi Again Marian,
We are posting your image of a Long Legged Fly in the genus Condylostylus. It is nearly impossible to distinguish the exact species. They are predatory, preying on smaller insects.

Just What We Need: More Houseflies!!!
(07/11/2005)



Marian, a frequent contributor from Florida sent in this photo of Musca domestica, the Housefly, doing it. Guess there will be maggots on the way soon.

Syrphid Larva eating Aphid!!!
(07/01/2005) another photo from Fairbanks, Alaska
Hello,
I took this photo in yesterday in Fairbanks , Alaska .  This small caterpillar (about 1⁄2 inch in length) was eating an aphid on my tomato plant.  
Erik Anderson
Education Associate
Alaska Department of Fish & Game
Fairbanks Alaska



Hi Erik,
Beautiful photograph. We did some carniverous caterpillar research and there is only one aphid eating caterpillar, the Harvester, Feniseca tarquinius, and it does not range in Alaska. We queried Eric Eaton and he revealed the real answer: "Ooh!  This is a GREAT image about a great creature to talk about. Unless you catch one in the act of eating aphids, you might assume it is actually a plant-feeder, not the biocontrol agent and friend of the gardener! It is the larva of a syrphid fly!  Several genera of syrphids (flower flies or, in Europe, "hover flies") have larvae that eat aphids.  The adult flies are all superb wasp or bee mimics, and excellent pollinators, so they help us out at all life stages:-) Thanks for sharing the great image. Eric"

Ed. Note: We just received the following letter.

(07/06/2005) What an odd coincidence, I just posted a picture of the aphid-eating hover fly larva in my blog just days before you posted your answer to a reader's question.  Cool.  We're in Colorado and this picture is from a rose bush.      Great site.
Rachel

Delphinia picta: Picture-Winged Fly
(05/09/2005) Strange Fly
Can you tell me what this is?  I noticed a lot of them flying around this weekend (May 7-8) where I live in Newport News, Virginia and tried looking them up on the net, but the closest I could find was a Pyrgotid Fly, mostly because of the wing shape and coloring.  It is about 1/4 to 3/8 inch long. A local entomologist said it could be a seed maggot fly.
Harry



Hi Harry,
We contacted Eric Eaton for assistance with your photo. He writes: "The fly may be an Otitidae (aka Ulidiidae) species rather than a Tephritidae.  I am just learning about the flies, though:-)  Try the Systematic Entomology Laboratory at the Smithsonian, going to the Diptera pages.  Also try Bugguide, as I have seen this critter there, again, in Otitidae." We did some additional internet checking, and while we couldn't locate your exact species we did find that this family is known as the Picture-Winged Flies as well as this information: "Larvae of most Picture-winged Flies feed on decaying vegetation while a few are root feeders." There is also some confusion between the Platystomatid and Otitidid Flies as both are commonly called Picture-Winged Flies. Your fly is definitely not a Pergotid.

NOTE: Delphinia picta
(05/11/2005) Hi, I saw the photo submitted on 05/09/2005 by Harry of the picture-winged fly. I've photographed several of these in Atlanta. They were identified as Delphinia picta.
Bill DuPree
Atlanta, GA

Thanks for the assistance Bill.

Pergotid Fly
(05/04/2005) Could you help me ID this bug?
Found this bug last week.  Thought it was very interesting.  Looks like
an alien.
Thanks,
Susan



Hi Susan,
We thought this looked like a Pyrgotid Fly, but we wanted to be sure so we checked with Eric Eaton. Here is what he wrote back: "Actually, you are right on!  It IS a pyrgotid fly, Pyrgota undulata (might check the spelling of the species name). As larvae, pyrgotids are parasitic on adult May beetles in the genus Phyllophaga.  Adult female pyrgotids often are attracted to lights at night, perhaps to assault the May beetles that also fly in.  The female fly lands on a flying May beetle and drives an egg in between its exposed abdominal segments.  When the egg hatches inside the beetle, the larvae begins eating it alive.  Gross, but nice to know something keeps the beetles in check!
Eric"

Bombylius Bee Fly
(05/04/2005) What is it?
This bad looking critter was hanging upside down on my young pecan tree.  The Pecan tree looks like it is not going to make it. 
David R. WIlliams
Gainesville, GA



Hi David,
We wrote to Eric Eaton for a positive ID on your fly and here is what he wrote:
"Thankfully it is one I do recognize:-)  It is a bee fly in the genus Bombylius, probably B. major, as they are common across the continent. They are parasites of solitary bees.  The proboscis is for sipping nectar, not for sucking blood! " The Audubon Guide claims: "Bee Flies are capable of hovering motionless while waiting for a female bee but can dart quickly in pursuit. They often settle on foliage or bare ground, but are difficult to capture because they are so alert and quick." At any rate, they are not the cause of your pecan tree not going to make it.

Bathroom Fly
(02/06/2005) Identify this Fly?
Hi! Found your website while trying to ID this tiny fly that is in the attached photos; we live in Miami, Florida, closer to the Everglades than the ocean, and have noticed an increase in the number of these guys (gals?) in our home.  They are completely black, very little shiny to them; they are rather slow flying when compared to common house flies, and are typically found on the bathroom walls, which we guess is because they like humidity.  Any ideas, and, should we be concerned? Thank you for such an interesting website.
--Louis
PS: Macro fotography of insects is harder than I thought!!!



Hi Louis,
Your macro-photos of the Bathroom Fly, Clogmia albipunctata, one of the Family of Moth Flies, Psychodidae, are quite good. As you indicated, they like damp areas, and are often found in bathrooms indoors and near stagnant water and cesspools. The larva live in the much found in drains and dead-flow areas of household plumbing.

Fly Face in Macro
(01/12/2005) Fly Photo
Hi Daniel,
Here's a photo of a fly I'd like to share with you. It's a macro shot of  a fly's face. I thought you might like to see it.
Keep up the good work.
Bill DuPree
Atlanta, Georgia



Hi Bill,
Thank you so much for sending your excellent photo in. We don't really discriminate between good and poor quality images when we post on our site since even the poorest quality images can be used for identification, but we always enjoy getting excellent images. Since the invention of the modern microscope, the fly has often been a subject deemed worthy of magnification.

Hover Fly
(12/07/2004) better picture of mysterious fly
Can you help identify this fly?
I have a fly in my home with bright yellow stripes across it's back like a yellow jacket it also has a stinger attached to her rear end I took some pictures of it with the digital camera. Or at least I believe she is a fly, she has the head and wings of the other three house flies in the house just not the same body. Not the best but I can take more she's just been sitting there looking at me all day in the exact same spot. I don't know if this is of interest to you or not but three regular house flies that flew in with her,  two as you can see from one of the pictures I have attached keep attacking her head. The other one I think was breeding with her.  Can you help identify this one?  For now since I am not sure what she is I'm just leaving her alone.  Besides she's been so patient with me trying to get a good picture of her shes just sat there and posed. Seems to be as fascinated with me as I am with her. If you need more pictures i can try and get more maybe use a chair if she is still here. When my husband got home last night he said he had seen one before but doesn't know what it is.  she's back sitting in the exact same spot almost not moving again. I think that's strange behavior for a fly.  My husband also said they look like flies but he believes they are some sort of bee. I don't think I told you where I live either it's Riverside, CA.  Also she is just a little over half the size to 3/4 the size of the house flies that will not leave her alone. 
Thanks! Diana



Hi Diana,
Your photo is of a Hover Fly from the Family Syrphidae. They are called Hover Flies because of the way they can hover in the air above flowers. They are sometimes called Flower Flies because they eat nectar from flowers. Their coloration which mimics bees and wasps is thought to be protective. Your fly is harmless and will not sting you.

Bee Fly is a Bee Mimic
(08/08/2004) Help
I'm having trouble identifying this bee?  It was photographed in Cook county Illinois yesterday.  I am a volunteer with the restoration of the Grassland Prairie in Orland Park called Orland Grassland.  Thank you for any help you can give me.
Suzanne Koglin



Hi again Suzanne,
You cannot identify your bee because it is not a bee. Eric Eaton has corrected us on the Family here. He says it "is actually a bee fly of some sort (family Bombyliidae)." Bee Flies, are true flies and friends of the gardener. Most species have larva which parasitize beetle larvae, wasps, bees and other burrowing insects. Adults are often seen hovering near flowers which they pollinate. Many species mimic bees and wasps as a defense mechanism. Flies have two wings while bees and wasps have four.

Possibly Window Fly Maggot
(08/01/2004) Strange caterpillar like bug in bottom of trash can
I have a trash can in my back yard that I had stored old bags of dog food.  I went to empty it out tonight and the bottom of it was filled with this strange bug I have never seen.  It looked like there were small ticks crawling all around them too!  Pictures are included.  Can you identify this for me? 
Thanks
Greg



Hi Greg,
Your photos are rather poor quality, so it is impossible to be certain. I am convinced you have some type of maggot. It looks like a Window Fly, Hermetia illucens, Maggot. This is a large black fly that resembles a wasp. According to Hogue: "The larva is robust, tapered in outline, and somewhat flattened, with a tough brown leathery skin covered with numerous short bristles. It is terrestrial and breeds in various organic substances, commonly decaying fruits and vegetables. In urban areas, the larva occurs in garden soil, in piles of compost and ground mulch, and near garbage pails that have been placed on soil."

As we were responding to Greg, he emailed us back this note:
Garden Soldier fly larvae
I found the type of craeture it was I asked about.  It is the garden soldier fly larvae.  I have had a tick problem recenly and treated the yard for them.  I think that they may have migrated to that small area too.  Thanks anyway.
Greg L.

Hi Greg,
The Window Fly is a member of the Soldier Fly family Stratiomyidae.

Mexican Flower Fly
(07/06/2004)
hi I am from mexico and I have faund many insects in my garden that I cant identify so if you can help me I will be thankfull.
Daniel Vasquez

Hi Daniel,
Did you attach photos?  They did not arrive.  Where in Mexico?

well first i¨am fome mexico city the capital  y will send you the fotos now.



Hi again Daniel,
This image is of a species of Flower Fly, Family Syrphidae. The adults, pictured in your photo, are often seen hovering around flowers. They have a wasplike appearance because of the yellow and black stripes. They are beneficial. Adults eat pollen and the larvae will help keep your aphid population in check by feeding upon them.

(05/12/2004) Chartreuse Fly Acts Like Deer Fly?
Help! We have recently discovered these large bright green insects which look like flies all over our 2 pet pigs. We have seen them twice & only around dusk. We have recently moved to a 46 acre farm in rural North Central Florida & the pigs are in an area that is mostly woods. They appear to be biting flies & sound a little buzzy. They act like deer flies & do not return to the pigs (on that day, at least) when they are sprayed with a pyrethrin insect repellant. I have not engaged in mortal combat with one so I have no photo yet. I'd love to identify them before we move our goats & horses here. Any help in identifying them would be appreciated. Thanks in advance,
Sandra

Hi Sandra, We would love to get that photo when you go to war.  We are thinking you might have Sweat Bees, which are often a brilliant green color.  they are attracted to sweat, hence the name.  Bees have four wings while flies only have two wings, should you ever get close enough to notice.

Thanks for the prompt response, but I think that they must be something different for three reasons: 1) I looked up some photos of sweat bees online & they didn't look like that. 2) I was on stakeout at dusk today, but none showed up. I was visited by 2 deer flies & the ones I'm trying to identify are at least 2 - 3 times the size of a deer fly & sweat bees are supposed to be pretty small. 3) Pigs don't sweat. (Technically they do sweat on their noses, but these guys were not near their heads, they were on their sides like a deer or horse fly would be.) Will keep on the lookout & capture dead or alive for future photo ID. Thanks again, Sandra

Here are the photos of the fly I grabbed off the pig tonight. I froze it before photographing.



Hi Sandra,
I wanted to reply to you quickly so that you would know I was working on your question. You have some type of Horse Fly, Family Tabanidae, which also includes Deer Flies. I have found references on the internet to Green Horse Flies being troublesome in Maine, and also to their proliferation in hot weather at the St. Elizabeth's Medical Center in Kentucky, but no species name or photos. I have a query out to the Museum of Natural History in Los Angeles and hope to hear back soon. Female Horse Flies are the blood suckers while males feed on nectar and pollen. The larvae are usually aquatic.

(01/05/2004) Spontaneous Generation?
Our houseflies seem to show up seasonally, after the heat of the summer andbefore it turns cold. The warm winter we've experienced so far this year inNorth Carolina seems to have extended the flies' season. While ours seem tobe common houseflies, they tend to congregate in our bathrooms and thekitchen. They aren't as small as the writer Holly describes "bathroomflies". They look very much like the 1/3/04 picture that Jackie sent.While Jackie and her boyfriend were on vacation and returned to full-grownflies, we NEVER see anything less than an adult fly, no immature flies orlarvae. The cycle is that the adult flies show up over a period of two-three days(about 50-80 in number) then die in the next 3-4. We'll have some peacethen and the cycle resumes, seemingly tied to the outside temperature--nottoo hot or cold. Of possible interest is that they also afflict one of our next door neighbors at about the same time (September-Octoberish) each year,but not the house on the other side of us (same side of street not far from a creek).
Finally, my questions:
1. What would you use to clean the drains in order to kill and eggs/larvae that might be germinating there?
2. What is the lifespan of the type of fly I've described?
3. Since they seem to be breeding inside and are drawn to the light, buzzing around the North-facing windows, is the outside temperature just a coincidence?
4. As there is no obvious organic matter that these flies are breeding in, have you any knowledge of something we could spray around the kitchen baseboards that might help control them?
5. Our dogs like to eat the flies. Is this a potential health threat forthem?
I am grateful for any help you can provide.
Heather

Dear Heather,
You have such a lucid letter. I hope I can be of some help. Bathroom flies are a totally different species with a different appearance. They breed in drains, but other flies do not. You do seem to have cyclical broods appearing. Finding the food source is the true key to solving the problem. A little bit of ancient history provided by Encyclopaedia Britannica: Spontaneous Generation or Abiogenesis was a theory that stated that fully formed living organisms sometimes arise from non-living matter. Aristotle taught the theory as observed fact. The Italian Redi, in 1668, proved that no maggots were "bred" in meat on which flies were prevented by wire screens from laying their eggs.
The fact is, flies seem to have a way of magically appearing. Flies were also, in the days of the persecutions, associated with witches. There is no magic, they are breeding on something. Adult flies will live for several weeks, but the maturation cycle varies with the temperature. It can be as short as a week in warm temperatures. The dogs can eat the flies without harm. Spraying poisons will help kill the adults, but will make your home toxic. Get to the root of the problem and discover the food source. Could there be something dead in the walls? Potatoes rotting under the sink? They are eating something. Good Luck.

You're a good man.  A good man with bad news.  The thought of a dead rodent in the wall had flickered in my mind, but I was able to suppress it before it took hold.  Until you wrote.  I believe I'll try the vents first. Perhaps the pantry floor.  It would be easier if something smelled. I appreciate your thoughtful reply and bonus history lesson very much.  
Heather

(01/03/2004) Invasion Of Flies!
My boyfriend and I recently returned from a week long vacation.   When we came home we began noticing giant black houseflies everywhere.
The are huge, and it seems like every time we get rid of one, another 3 appear out of nowhere.   What the heck is going on here?  They are really freaking me out.   What can I do bout them?
Thanks,
Jackie Rosenthal

Dear Jackie,
You (or your boyfriend) must have left some organic matter, probably in the garbage can, and a single female fly laid her eggs. If it was warm, they matured quickly. There is not much you can do about the current brood but swat them. Just make sure there is nothing rotting in the house to provide food for a future generation.

(12/10/2003) more bugs
Hello again.  Here are some more bugs we are having trouble with.  I really do try to identify all these before writing to you.  Anyway, again all were found on Fort Bragg, NC. This is a small fly...I can't remember exact size but it was less than half an inch. This picture was taken on October 13. 
Lynette

Hi Lynette,
You have some type of Fruit Fly, Family Trypetidae. According to Essig's Insects and Mites of Western North America, "They are small to medium sized, many colored flies, usually with beautifully pictured wings and with the characteristic habit of slowly elevating and lowering their wings when at rest or strutting about on fruit or foliage, which has given them the name peacock flies. The larvae are characteristic white maggots living in fruits, berries, husks of nuts, leaves, stems, and other parts of living plant tissues." The most notorious member of the family, though not your specimen, is the Mediterranean Fruit Fly or Medfly, Ceratitis capitata, which is often responsible for wholescale spraying of Florida and California neighborhoods to prevent, inadequately, the infestation of citrus crops.

(11/10/2003) bathroom flies
I have no idea what has invaded my shower. I am a very clean housekeeper so this little bug has nothing to do with an unclean environment. I live on a lake and maybe that has something to do with it. Well, here goes the description. It is a very, very small black wormlike bug not even a 1/2" long and about as big around as mechanical pencil lead. It gets into the edge of the shower and digs into the grout. I can pour clorox in the shower and they come out and die. If you do not kill all of them you will see a fat black knat like fly with big wings a few weeks later. I had the shower taken down and the shower pan liner replaced. Nothing was in that area. I am constantly pouring clorox and killing thesethings but will still see the knat and worm like bugs. I also have to replace the caulking in the shower frequently because they dig into it and using the clorox also eats it away.
Do you have any idea what I have and how to get rid of it?

Dear Virginia,
You have bathroom flies, Clogmia albipunctata, which belong to the family of Moth Flies, Psychodidae. You have it exactly right. The larval form lives in the organic muck which forms inside the drains, and the fact that you live so closely to a lake probably compounds your situation since they will also enter the home from the outside where they live in shallow pools and tree holes. Thoroughly cleaning your plumbing might help, but as long as you continue to kill the individuals you are finding, you will help to control the population.

(10/10/2003) help me identify this bug
Dear Bugman, I have these bugs flying around in my home could you tell me what they are it is really bothering me. I have two small children do they pose a threat to them? they seem to be very small maybe the tip of a pencil size. red on top of body white on bottom of body with two little black eyes and a tiny black butt and they fly i have inclosed a piture of two that i killed. i live in idaho
thanks Jenean

Dear Jenean,
You have common fruit flies, Drosophila melanogaster. They also are commonly known as sour flies or vinegar flies. They are attracted to ripe or souring fruit as well as fermenting beer and other substances. They are pests in bars where they often wind up inside of liquor bottles. They are readily attracted to banana peels or any other ripening fruit in the house. Perhaps you have something in the garbage can that is drawing them indoors. They have olfactory senses, which are located in the third antennal segment, that are extremely keen, and they are able to respond from a considerable distance to the odors that attract them.
These are also the fruit flies of genetics research, and their use in the laboratory is responsible for much genetic research mapping the chromosones. Because of their extreme variability and because of their short maturity cycle and the ease with which they can be maintained, they are perfect lab specimens.
They are not a threat to your children. Because I keep a compost pile in my back yard, and because I keep a container in the kitchen where I save vegetable scraps, I often have a small cloud of fruit flies hovering around the juice carton on the sink board.

thanks so much for your information. I am so glad I found your site
Jenean

Yellow & Black large fly
(7/31/2003)
Hi - We seem to be attracting a type of fly into our house that I've never seen before; It's about 2cm long. Has a yellow & black striped abdomen approx 1cm & quite fat. A brown beetle like back between its head and abdomen 6 Brown legs 2 very big browny transparent wings large eyes with a central yellow stripe between thema pointy chin with a little feeler hanging centrally under it. Does it sound familiar...??? Hope you can help.
Regards,
Anthony

Dear Anthony,
There are some types of flies which mimic bees, and are colored as you describe.  They belong
to the Family Syrphidae and are called Flower Flies.  They are beneficial to gardeners.

(5/21/03)I live in the midwest and recently relandscaped a good portion of my lawn and had bluegrass sod laid. ok so it was a very warm dry winter then 2 days after sod was laid the spring rains started and just keep coming. Problem is 2 monthes later the rains still come 1 or 2 times a week. there are lots of mushrooms growing in the new sod but that dosen't bother me i know it will dry up soon. the problem is the sodded area seems to be infested with small dark colored flying bugs larger than gnats but smaller than the average house fly.the sod is still deep green but im worried that this could be a damaging infestation! what kind of insecticide should be used ? can you tell me what kind of bug this could be? thanks in advance!
                               Robert Bouchard

Dear Robert,
   Many nonbiting gnats including Root Gnats (Family Sciaridae) and March Flies (Family Bibionidae) spend their maggot form eating decaying plant material such as compost, peat and spaghnum.  They are scavengers who often live among the roots of grasses.  There was probably a substrate of manure and compost laid beneath your sod, and that is where the flies are breeding.  They will not damage your lawn as they do not feed on the living grass.

Dear Angie,
Louse Flies, family Hippoboscidae, are small with flattened bodies. They look like winged ticks that cling tenaciously or crawl sluggishly when they land on skin or clothing.  All louse flies are blood suckers, though none feed regularly on humans.  Upon emerging from the pupa the adult fly, which has fully developed though fragile wings, flies among trees and shrubs in search of prey.  They are ectoparasites whose natural prey includes deer and certain birds.

(10/5/2002)
My husband and I have been seeing a type of bug that we can't identify. They are black bugs, about 1/2 centimeter in size. We never seem to see them flying, they usually are just sitting on the walls. They sort of resemble tiny houseflies, except that they don't have large eyes. I have attached a basic drawing of one.
We started seeing these a few weeks ago when my husband was doing some work in the basement. There was an open drain in the floor which was starting to smell. It was at that time we noticed a few of these bugs. So my husband cemented over the drain. That was a couple weeks ago and we are still seeing the bugs. They don't seem to be attracted to food or garbage or anything in particular. We just see them on the walls. When we go to kill them, they leave a charcoal-like smudge on the wall (I don't know if that info helps at all - its just something I noticed). Please help us figure out what these bugs are and the best way to get rid of them!
Thanks!
Holly Kramer

Dear Holly,
You have Bathroom Flies, Clogmia albipunctata, which belong to the Moth Fly family Psychodidae. They are small, harmless gnats that are often noticed indoors in damp places, especially bathrooms and more specifically showers. The brown wormlike larvae develop in the sludgy organic muck that accumulates outdoors in shallow lpools and under artificial conditions, in sink traps, drains, and dead-flow areas in household plumbing. Clean out the pipes.

August, 2002 FLIES!
What is the tiny fly type bug that comes in through the window screens and hangs out on the window glass or ceiling. They almost look like a small fruit fly but they are not. They hang out in the grass as if you water your lawn or walk through it they disperse. Just tons coming in the garage screen door. I've been swatting them for almost a week now. Live in NY state and it has been dry and hot. Thanks

Dear Cindy,
    Your hovering flies are probably Little House Flies (Fannia canicularis) which are smaller than normal house flies (Musca domestica).  On hot summer days, they can be found in garages, under trees, in doorways and in other shaded places, aimlessy hovering, never seeming to land nor having any definite place to go.  According to Hogue, swarms of Little House Flies are mainly males with females usually resting nearby.  Breeding occurs in a wide variety of rotting organic materials, and they are especially fond of chicken manure and are often found in large numbers near poultry farms.  The flat, oval maggots also eat much of the same diet as other domestic flies, frequenting garbage heaps.  To get rid of them, clean the chicken coop and make sure the garbage is removed regularly.

The fly on the wing of the big fly is a normal housefly. The other two look
exactly the same, but are huge. Their coloring is the same as the housefly,
but I have never seen a housefly this big.  They do not have the green of a
horse fly, and our neighbor had an even larger one on her window.   We live in
upstate NY.  Any information will be appreciated.
     ThankYou
     Tsehdek

Dear Tsedhek
     The small fly in your photo is indeed a housefly (Musca domestica). However, your description of the horse fly is inaccurate. The green flies with a metallic coloration are members of the blow fly group which feed as larvae or maggots on the meat of newly dead animals. The Green Bottle Flies (Phaenicia sp.) are very common and they are principally garbage infesting flies, but the maggots can also infest untreated wounds in humans while the adults feed on dog feces. The adults vary in size from 3/16 to 3/8 of an inch and the size depends on the diet of the maggot.
     Your large flies are in fact horse flies, (Tabanus sp.). The adults are robust flies from 3/4 to 1 1/8 inches in length. They are grey or blackish, and can have clear or darkish wings. The eyes often have horizontal stripes. The eggs are laid in marshes, ponds and along the margins of lakes and streams, and very often in sloughs, irrigation ditches and similar locations with wet mud and decaying vegetation. The larvae grow to nearly 2 inches long on a diet of snails and other small invertebrates. The adults exhibit sexual dimorphism, with the females having a seperation between the eyes which the male lacks. Her thorax is also white while his has a fringe of white hairs. The adult females have a ferocious appetite for blood, generally from horses, dogs and the occasional human, and they have been known to trouble rhinos, tapirs and hippopotomi at the L.A. Zoo. The bite is painful. The male feeds on fruit juices and nectar from flowers and does not bite. The female supplements her diet with fruit and flower fluids as well.