HELEOMYZID FLY

HELEOMYZID FLY

Suillia sp.
HELEOMYZID FLY FAMILY (Heleomyzidae)

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A small reddish brown fly approximately 8 mm (5/16 inch) long with black rearward facing hairs on the thorax and a row of short black bristles on the foreleg femurs. It has large eyes, orange legs and black, white-tipped feet. The wings are smoky gray.

 

This fly was photographed at the Fontenelle Forest Nature Center in mid-July, 2014 and again on 1 November 2016. It is widespread in North America and is known to occur from coast to coast and into Canada. Since there have been two sightings of this species in Fontenelle Forest we don’t know how common it is in this area.

 

There are 113 known species of Heleomyzid Flies in 34 genera in North America. The genus Suillia includes 8 known species. The larvae feed and develop on fungi.

 

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