von Tschirnhaus wrote:
Chloropidae, Chloropinae: Thaumatomyia glabra (Meigen, 1830), earlier also treated long time in the synonymous genus Chloropisca Loew, 1866; a well known fly with its "beneficial" larvae consuming root aphids (Pemphigidae). If harvestíng beet, carrots or spinach with the white wax exsudates of the aphids between the roots you will find the larvae. See further posts and actually 595 references in my database dealing with this species. My speculation: The glabrous body may be an adaption to an easier penetration of clifts in the soil for egg deposition close to the aphids. By the way, also T. hallandica and other congeners have very short and sparse setae.