#root-maggot fly

[sitting-on-me-bum]

Hylemya is a genus of root-maggot flies in the family Anthomyiidae. There are at least 30 described species in Hylemya.

Zohre Janati

[drhoz]

#429 - Exotic Root-maggot Fly

This species has been bothering me for ages, since I see it regularly, and sometimes in some quantity, but I couldn't figure out what it was. It turns out I'd been looking in the wrong family - it's actually an Anthomyiid, and an introduced species at that.

Anthomyia punctipennis (the species name meaning 'spotted wing') is a South American species accidentally introduced to Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Macquarie Island at the turn of last century. It's doing very well over here. The maggots feed on decomposing plants, fungi, and dung.

Here's what you get when one on your van window takes off just as you take the shot

Wellard and Baldivis, Perth

[drhoz]

[joeshmo138]

A very photogenic Root-maggot Fly i found in my backyard