MARSH FLY

MARSH FLY

Euthycera arcuata
MARSH FLIES (Sciomyzidae)

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A small tan colored fly about 8 mm long. Wings are speckled brown and white, legs are yellow, eyes are salmon colored with horizontal scarlet stripes. There is a noticeable shiny bump on the thorax.

 

The known range for this fly is eastern North America, east of the Rocky Mountains. The individual shown was photographed in September 2017 in the restored butterfly garden in the Fontenelle Forest wetlands. Adult marsh flies are found around marshes, lakes, ponds, or wooded areas. Larvae are aquatic.

 

Larvae of marsh flies parasitize or prey on freshwater or terrestrial snails. There are about 200 species of marsh flies in 20 genera in North America but only one species in the genus Euthycera.

 

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