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Berlin - July 21

I am wondering if Chloropidae is correct? i really don't know what it could be. My shoulder injury makes it difficult to hold the camera steady and the fly is very small around 1.8-3mm. I'm hoping to secure a proper family. I have a specimen if examination is necessary.

I found several of them sitting on the flowers of our balcony. I see many more. I was trying to find Scatophila but i found these instead.

Thank you.

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Chloropidae is correct

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Thank you, Paul. I appreciate you.

I have a mating pair and several more hanging around right now so i will examine them to see which species. I looked through the gallery just now and it seems like we are missing some of these dark Chloropids. I will try to id with keys and genitalia, then add some pics

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Oscinella frit (L.) Chloropidae, the most abundant fly in Europe, harmful to cereals, including maize. At least 2262 publications and dissertations treat only this agricultural pest. The first note was written in the book of Marcus Terentius VARRO (35-30 before Christ): De re rustica. [= Res rusticae, = On agriculture]. Liber I, cap(p)itulum XLVII: [Containing the sentence: "Illut [sic!, correct illud] autem summa in spica jam matura, quod est minus quam granum, vocatur frit"]. Linné (1758) knew this book and took up the name frit, meaning a grass seed damaged and eaten by an insect.

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Hello Dr. von Tschirnhaus,

Thank you for taking time to reply. The information that you posted is superb! Thank you for the background data and the etymology of the word frit. Very much appreciated.

These flies seem to like our Chrysanthemums along with Scatophila.

Best wishes,
John