This tiny fly is approximately 3/8 inch (10 mm) in length. It has broad brown bands across the wings. The eyes are red. The thorax and abdomen are light gray with a mosaic pattern of small black dots. The end of the abdomen is plain gray. There are sparse hairs on the top of the head and thorax. The legs are tan-colored.
The frequency of occurrence is not now known, but the individuals pictured here (Photos 1-3) were photographed in early September at Fontenelle Forest.
These flies have a habit of constantly waving their wings. The larvae of most species are scavengers of decaying matter. There are 133 species in 41 genera of Picture-winged Flies in North America.
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