Diptera.info :: Identification queries :: Diptera (adults)
 Parasite on fly ?
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| LordV |
Posted on 21-09-2010 07:35
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Member Location: Posts: 673 Joined: 06.09.05 |
Took this shot yesterday of a largish fly and noticed when I was doing the processing it seemed to have something odd attached to it's thorax above the front leg. Is this a parasite of some type ? Brian v.  |
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| Stephane Lebrun |
Posted on 21-09-2010 08:18
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 Member Location: Le Havre, France Posts: 8248 Joined: 03.03.07 |
The odd thing is its anterior spiracle (a respiratory organ), and the fly is very probably Phaonia valida (just guessing from the reddish hair on occiput + overall appearance).
Stephane. |
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| LordV |
Posted on 22-09-2010 07:39
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Member Location: Posts: 673 Joined: 06.09.05 |
Thanks for the info and ID Stephane. Not noticed this type of structure on other flies before ? Brian v. |
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| ChrisR |
Posted on 22-09-2010 09:31
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 Super Administrator Location: Reading, England Posts: 7706 Joined: 12.07.04 |
The spiracles are usually much less well defined in comparison with the surrounding pleura but I have seen things like this on other species. The whole thing would have been obvious if you had a photo taken of the other side - and I think if we could see it the posterior spiracle would look similar too. Each spiracle is usually made from 2 slightly fluffy flaps that help to keep dust and dirt out of the fly's breathing tubes 
Edited by ChrisR on 22-09-2010 09:32 Manager of the UK Species Inventory in the Angela Marmont Centre for UK Biodiversity at the Natural History Museum, London. |
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