Posted by jojo on 24-10-2019 16:55
#1
Hello together,
today I photographed this fly covered with wax. I think it´s a Sciaridae sp., but I wondered about the wax.
Is this normal? And is here an ID possible?
locality: Germany Odenwald - about 300 m altitude
fotodate: 24.10.2019
size with wings: 3mm
Best Regards Jochen
Edited by jojo on 24-10-2019 17:02
Posted by Tony Irwin on 24-10-2019 20:03
#3
It is Sciaridae, but I doubt you will be able to get even a genus from the photos. I don't know of any species of sciarid that has a waxy coating, so I think this one has been accidentally covered in powder - perhaps having emerged through some diatomaceous earth, which is commonly used as a soil surface insecticide in gardens.
Posted by jojo on 24-10-2019 21:43
#4
Thank you, Tony for this information. It will probably remain a mystery.
Jochen