This fly is approximately 3/8 inch (10 mm) in length. It has a gray thorax with sparse, spiky black hairs and a black bulbous abdomen. The face is brownish-orange and has a distinctive “horse head” shape. The eyes are large and red. The black wings have 2 white triangles on the leading edge and other white spots. It moves its wings in a rowing motion as it walks.
They are present from spring to fall where there is decaying vegetation. In some years they are very common. They were seen occasionally until the spring of 2013 when they could be seen sitting on vegetation singly or in groups all over the uplands and lowlands of Fontenelle Forest.
These are often mistaken for fruit flies that are pests on fresh fruit. The larvae of this species feed on dead-fall fruit and other decomposing vegetation.
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