flies in love

Wim van Egmond · Post by **Wim van Egmond** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 2:01 am

Tiny flies on a thistle. Eyes flashing in excitement!

Wim

Ken Ramos · Post by **Ken Ramos** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 2:47 am

I've never seen eyes like this on a fly before. Unusual shot Wim.

paul · Post by **paul** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 3:21 am

A very dynamic composition, and amazing colours, especially the eyes. Great detail.

salden · Post by **salden** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 3:48 am

Those are some pretty eyes, that is for sure. Nice capture and fantastic details.

beetleman · Post by **beetleman** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 4:30 am

I just love the whole......everything

They look like they have love in their eyes

Charles Krebs · Post by **Charles Krebs** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 9:27 am

Hi Wim... any idea on an ID for these flies?
I also find them on thistles here in Washington and would really like to get an ID for them. I would like to learn a little more about them. (Posted a microscope shot here a couple weeks ago).

Jody Melanson · Post by **Jody Melanson** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 5:53 pm

Nice shot. These guys are False Peacock Flies.

rjlittlefield · Post by **rjlittlefield** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 6:14 pm

Or possibly Strauzia (Diptera:Tephritidae), http://bugguide.net/node/view/36887.

Same family, different genus, assuming that False Peacock Flies means Chaetorellia succinea, as Google suggests.

Charlie, have you checked with U.Washington to see if there's an entomologist there with local knowledge?

--Rik

Wim van Egmond · Post by **Wim van Egmond** » Fri Aug 18, 2006 12:34 am

That looks like a relative Charles! Perhaps the american cousins of my fly:)Great picture.

I think the species I photographed could be a different species than Strauzia longipennis. The male does not have these thick bristles on the head and the female has a more pronounced elongated abdomen. (see below) But that could also be because she is about to mate. But any suggestion on the species is welcome!

Wim