Tag Archives: flies

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 →

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What’s Going on Here?

Posted on May 10, 2012 by

A lot of times when blogging one is tempted to offer explanations of things going on in nature.  I am tempted to do that sometimes as well.  However, I find that there are times when I observe something and just … Continue reading →

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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 →

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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 →

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Spring has Sprung

Posted on March 10, 2012 by

I have no illusions that it is here for good, but today is a nice day. The sun pops the flowers right out. Flies eat a lot of different things. The high society types eat saffron.  

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A Small Flower Fly

Posted on September 25, 2011 by

We seem to have a number of Syrphid flies in our constructed prairie, but at least for now three species predominate. This is the smallest of the three. At some point I will try to identify it but I don’t … Continue reading →

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The Same, or Different?

Posted on August 29, 2011 by

In July I posted an image with some flies doing a mating dance.  This was one of those photos. I did not know what it was at the time, but I posted a photo to bugguide and it was identified … Continue reading →

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The Coolest Thing I Saw at the Bugguide Gathering…

Posted on August 6, 2011 by

These were my favorite insects of the Bugguide gathering.  I saw them at Doolittle Prairie on Thursday night. This is a type of a fly, apparently in the fruit fly group.  This one is a female.  It has a fat abdomen … Continue reading →

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Dancing Flies

Posted on July 26, 2011 by

I noticed these flies the other day in our prairie.  They are very small–I think they are a type of fruit fly.  Each fly is about the size of the head of a housefly. I watched them doing a little … Continue reading →

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Tiny Little Nasty

Posted on July 20, 2011 by

Robber flies can be huge and ferocious looking.  Anyone who is the least bit scared of insects may be deathly afraid of these flies which can be almost two inches long. I suspect that robber flies are capable of producing … Continue reading →

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