The Society for the study of flies (Diptera)

JNP · 2010-09-07 19:22:54

Twice now, in my house I've come across a very persistent fly that is fairly slow flying but when it lands it sort of scuttles sideways. It is about 8mm long, has a black head, thorax and abdomen which is squarish. The underside is a pale colour, almost peppermint green. It tends to want to land on your face, near your eyes but does not appear to want to bite. Is it taking up salts from skin?
I've not been able to get a shot of it but I've never seen one before. It's definitely not a House fly or flesh fly.
As you can tell I'm not very clued up on fly id but odonata is my favoured area.
J

Tony Irwin · 2010-09-08 03:28:44

Hi J
What sort of habitat is around your house? - I have a couple of ideas, but knowing a bit about your environment would help clarify them.
Tony

JNP · 2010-09-08 22:54:56

Well your standard garden with bushes and shrubs, a defunct pond, and arable land about 100 metres away. Nothing exciting like a sewage works or a nice bit of salt marsh, although the Thames is only about a mile north of us.
We do get nice hoverflies like Volucella zonaria every now and then.

Tony Irwin · 2010-09-08 23:59:08

Well, one idea that I had was a flat fly - see http://www.diptera.info/photogallery.php?photo_id=411
Alternatively a stratiomyiid like Oplodontha - see http://www.diptera.info/photogallery.php?photo_id=415
There are muscids that regularly land on faces (to suck sweat) but I can't think of any that have peppermint green undersides.

The Society for the study of flies (Diptera)

#1 2010-09-07 19:22:54

Fly that walks like a crab!

#2 2010-09-08 03:28:44

Re: Fly that walks like a crab!

#3 2010-09-08 22:54:56

Re: Fly that walks like a crab!

#4 2010-09-08 23:59:08

Re: Fly that walks like a crab!

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