Flies – Sharon Friends of Conservation

Moth Fly or Drain Fly – 7/1/23

Observer: Gaurav Shah Observation Date: 7/1/23 Observation Time: 4:00 p.m. Observation Location: trail off Billings St. Common Name: Moth Fly or Drain Fly Scientific Name: Family Psychodidae, possibly genus Pericoma Comments: There are many species of flies in the family Psychodidae. Some are called “drain flies” because they thrive in the drains of sinks and commonly infest bathrooms. Other species in this family are called […]

Early Tachinid Fly – 6/2/22

Observer: Josh Simons Observation Date: 6/2/22 Observation Time: 3:00 p.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Wildlife Sanctuary Common Name: Early Tachinid Fly Scientific Name: Epalpus signifer Comments: This specimen was identified with the Seek iOS app. More Information: Wikipedia and Missoula Butterfly House and Insectarium

Common Green Bottle Fly – 7/5/21

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/5/21 Observation Time: 2:20 p.m. Observation Location: Maskwonicut St. (on the bridge over Beaver Brook) Common Name: Common Green Bottle Fly Scientific Name: Lucilia sericata Comments: The common green bottle fly (Lucilia sericata) is a blowfly found in most areas of the world and is the most well-known of the numerous green bottle fly species. Its body is slightly larger than a […]

Long-legged Fly – 7/5/21

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/5/21 Observation Time: 2:00 p.m. Observation Location: Maskwonicut St. near Beaver Brook Common Name: Long-legged fly Scientific Name: Condylostylus patibulatus Comments: Metallic green long-legged flies are typically found near water. I encountered this one hopping from leaf to leaf on vegetation growing on the bridge over Beaver Brook. Adult flies are predaceous on mites, aphids, booklice, thrips, flies, silverfish, small […]

Goldrenrod Bunch Gall Midge – 9/9/20

Observer: Josh Simons Observation Date: 9/9/20 Observation Time: 11:00 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill area Common Name: Goldrenrod Bunch Gall Midge Scientific Name: Rhopalomyia solidaginis Comments: This peculiar insect makes a gall on goldenrod. More Information: iNaturalist

Bee Fly – 9/4/20

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 9/4/20 Observation Time: 2:15 p.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Farm (TTOR) Common Name: Bee fly Scientific Name: Systropus macer Comments: This fly looks like a wasp. It was feeding on a late purple aster blossom beside the dirt road under the power lines. More Information: Forestry Images and Bugguide.net

Flower Fly – 5/27/19

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/27/19 Observation Time: 3:40 p.m. Observation Location: Conservation land near Morse & Lakeview Streets. Common Name: Flower Fly Scientific Name: Helophilus fasciatus (family: Syrphidae) Comments: Flower Flies (also known as “hover flies” because of their tendency to hover in mid-air for long periods), are especially interesting insects. They are overlooked by nearly everybody but farmers, who recognize them as one of the most […]

Snipe Fly – 5/27/19

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/27/19 Observation Time: 1:00 p.m. Observation Location: Conservation land near Morse & Lakeview Common Name: Snipe Fly Scientific Name: Rhagio mystaceus Comments: Also known as a down-looker fly. Two of the photos show why. More Information: Wikipedia

Thick-headed Fly – 7/7/18

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/7/18 Observation Time: 1:45 p.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Farm (TTOR) Common Name: Thick-headed Fly Scientific Name: Physocephala tibialis Comments: This family of flies is a parasite of solitary bees, and sometimes wasps. The female grabs the host while in flight and forces an egg between the bee’s abdominal segments. More Information: NatureSearch

Flower Fly – 5/23/18

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/23/18 Observation Time: 8:50 a.m. Observation Location: Moose Hill Farm (TTOR) Common Name: Flower Fly Scientific Name: Helophilus fasciatus Comments: Flower Flies (also known as “hover flies” because of their tendency to hover in mid-air for long periods), are especially interesting insects. They are overlooked by nearly everybody but farmers, who recognize them as one of the most important groups of insects […]

Robber Fly (male) – 7/18/15

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/18/15 Observation Time: 5:10 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Dam Common Name: Robber fly (male) Scientific Name: Efferia apicalis Comments: Robber flies of the genus Efferia are small to large-sized robber flies (10–40 mm) with a distinctly different shape of the posterior end of the abdomen in males versus females. Females have a short or long ovipositor that is hairless and short conical to […]

Dronefly – 7/13/13

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 7/13/13 Observation Time: 12:05 p.m. Observation Location: Soccer parking area by Gavins Pond Common Name: Dronefly Scientific Name: Eristalis tenax Comments: This fly looks like a drone honeybee—hence the name. More Information: TrekNature

Crane Fly – 5/26/10

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 5/26/10 Observation Time: 5:20 p.m. Observation Location: Gavins Pond Common Name: Crane Fly Scientific Name: various Comments: These insects look scary but they don’t bite. More Information: Wikipedia

Caddisfly Larva – 3/17/11

Observer: Paul Lauenstein Observation Date: 3/17/11 Observation Time: 3:10 p.m. Observation Location: vernal pool near Bay Road Common Name: Caddisfly Larva Scientific Name: Order Trichoptera Comments: Caddisfly larva are aquatic. They build a protective case of silk around themselves, incorporating debris for camouflage and protection. Their presence is indicative of good water quality. Adult caddis flies emerge en masse for just a few weeks. After emergence, they do […]

Brown Mantidfly – 6/20/14

Observer: Faith Berkland Observation Date: 6/20/14 Observation Time: 10:30 a.m. Observation Location: On one of the reflectors I have around my driveway. Common Name: Brown Mantidfly Scientific Name: Clineriella Brunnea Comments: I first thought it was a praying mantis but none of the pictures showed one that small, or with the wasp-like abdomen. I decided to see if it was a type of wasp and voila! See this photo. […]