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Tag Archives: diptera
Robber Flies are Pretty Impressive
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
Long Legged Fly
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 Condylostylus patibulatis, diptera, flies, long legged flies
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Something in the Air
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
Peony Buds
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
Why do Flies Have Hair?
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
Awesome Fly
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
Description of a Fly
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.
I Want to Learn About Flies
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 diptera, insects, macro photography, snipe flies, unrealistic goals
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Autumn Insects
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 diptera, fall color, hymenoptera, insects, macro photography
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Another Syrphid Fly
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 autumn, diptera, helophilus, macro photography, nature, syrphid flies
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