Tag Archives: diptera

Robber Flies are Pretty Impressive

Posted on July 14, 2012 by

I have always found robber flies to be impressive.  There are two small species around my place that are very common and I have photographed them a lot.  There are some others that are larger and not very common, and I … Continue reading →

Posted in insects | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Long Legged Fly

Posted on May 24, 2012 by

When I wonder around on our property and look at the leaves of trees and bushes I often see these long-legged flies.  I think this is Condylostylus patibulatus.  It belongs to a bigger group, the family Dolichopodidae.  Bugguide says there … Continue reading →

Posted in Biological diversity, diptera, insects | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Something in the Air

Posted on May 14, 2012 by

Many of us live in cities, surrounded by closely cropped grass, cement, and asphalt.  I am fortunate enough to live a little ways away from the city. If you live in a good habitat for them, there might be small … Continue reading →

Posted in diptera, insects | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Peony Buds

Posted on April 17, 2012 by

Our peonies are getting close to blooming.  Peonies at this stage secrete some kind of nectar or sap that is very attractive to insects.  Often you will see the buds covered with ants. They are also quite attractive to flies.  … Continue reading →

Posted in diptera, insects | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

Why do Flies Have Hair?

Posted on April 10, 2012 by

In the last post I had a photograph of Bombylius major.  That fly looks soft and furry, almost like a deer mouse.  It even has a lighter belly–similar to the countershading exhibited by the mouse. A few flies have enough … Continue reading →

Posted in diptera, insects | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Awesome Fly

Posted on February 18, 2012 by

So the last post was a little lame.  I channeled my inner Brundlefly and tried to be funny.  It didn’t work too well. Here is a photograph of the fly Euthycera arcuata. We tend to look at some creatures with … Continue reading →

Posted in diptera, insects | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments

Description of a Fly

Posted on February 16, 2012 by

According to Chapter 2 of the Manual of Nearctic Dipteria, “a fly is basically a bilaterally symmetric, horizontally oriented, forwardly progressing animal. So are we, pretty much.  Except for the horizontal part.  We are mostly vertical. Help me.  Help me.

Posted in diptera, insects | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

I Want to Learn About Flies

Posted on February 14, 2012 by

I know this is an odd goal, but I want to learn more about flies.  As a macro photographer I run across the most magnificant looking creatures, and often times they are flies. The thing is, even the scientists don’t … Continue reading →

Posted in diptera, insects | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Autumn Insects

Posted on October 4, 2011 by

I walked around for a short while this evening, trying to get photographs of some of the late season insects. The chlorophyll of the leaves is breaking down, leaving other pigments showing through.  Carotenes, xanthophylls–those other pigments are less well … Continue reading →

Posted in Biological diversity, Kinetitrophic organisms | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Another Syrphid Fly

Posted on September 26, 2011 by

One of the three common syrphid flies found in our prairie right now is this one, apparently in the genus Helophilus.  This one is quite a bit larger than the others, at about half an inch (13 mm).

Posted in diptera, insects | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment