Flies – Sharon Friends of Conservation

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. […]