Mar 20
#3558 - Chlorops sp.
Type genus of the family, which is large, widespread, and usually black or yellow.
Point Peron, Perth.
seen from Malaysia
seen from Aruba
seen from Russia
seen from China
seen from United Kingdom
seen from Russia
seen from Russia
seen from Malaysia
seen from Canada
seen from China
seen from Italy
seen from Egypt
seen from Venezuela
seen from United Kingdom
seen from Netherlands
seen from United Kingdom
seen from United Kingdom
seen from Germany
seen from South Korea
seen from Russia
#3558 - Chlorops sp.
Type genus of the family, which is large, widespread, and usually black or yellow.
Point Peron, Perth.
#3662 - Melangyna damastor
A hoverfly found on the west and east coasts of Australia.
Perth, various locations.
#3386 - Neodialineura sp.
A genus of ten known species of Stiletto Fly, endemic to Australia, but more commonly reported from the SE than the SW.
If they're anything like better known stiletto flies, the larvae are predators that live in sandy soil, hunting other invertebrates.
Falcon, S. of Perth.
#3313 - Poecilohetaerus aquilus
Tiny, 2mm long Lauxaniid flies of striking appearance, that seem to be quite common in Perth at the moment - of course, I only spot them on otherwise featureless walls and windows, being so small.
Found in southern and SW Australia. I have no other info on them.
Various coastal suburbs in Perth.
#3644 - Elaphropeza sp.
A genus of Dance Fly first described by French fly expert Pierre-Justin-Marie Macquart in 1827. The name is Greek for 'nimble walker', and probably refers to their success as predators on smaller invertebrates.
There are 17 described species in the genus, which is found in many parts of the world.
Erskine Lakes, Sth. of Perth.
#3537 - Hilara sp. - Balloon Fly
This one is a female, because it lacks the large silk glands in the forelegs, that males use to wrap nuptial gifts. If the gift - dead insects for preference - is sufficient, she'll allow him to mate. Or the male can be a sneaky bastard and offer a gift-wrapped husk or piece of debris, and mate as quickly as possible before she figures out she's been conned.
The Empididae (also known as Dagger Flies, and some genera known as Dance Flies moved off to their own family, the Hybotidae) exhibit quite complex and varied mating behaviour. In some the nuptial gift never contains food, and she's just impressed by the silk balloon. In other species it's the females that compete for access to males, and some of them have evolved elaborate ornaments to catch his eye.
Toodjay, WA.
#3017 - Desmometopa sp.
A widespread genus of Milichiid, with more than 50 described species.
Milichiids are best known for stealing a meal from larger predatory invertebrates, and two of their common names names reflect that - freeloader fly and jackalfly. Quite often they'll be seen feeding on something the larger predator already has in its jaws, or even exploring the jaws themselves. The predators don't appear to mind, so it's possible they consider it a free cleaning service.
Their larvae feeding on rotting vergetation, ordure, and detris, leading to another common name - filth flies.
Goodale Sanctuary, West Coolup, WA.
#3084- Dasybasis appendiculata
A widely distributed genus of Horse Fly (Tabanidae) most often seen in the wetter parts of Australia, New Zealand, and the west coast of South America, where if they're anything like other Tabanids feed on nectar and mammalian blood.
Great Southern BioBlitz 2024, Wongan Hills - Lake Ninan