Saturday
Oct012011

Muscid Fly

A largish female Muscid fly, probably a Phaonia valida = Phaonia viarum (Diptera: Muscidae).

P. valida is one of the larger species in its genus: this one seemed about 15mm long ('bluebottle size'), while most other Phaonia are between 6 and 9mm ('housefly size').

Photos taken in Whiteknights Park, Reading University grounds, Reading, UK, on 2011-09-25.

Friday
Sep302011

Crust Fungus

From the underside of a rotting log: wrinkled crust fungus, Phlebia radiata.  Like something from another planet.

Photo taken in the Wilderness, Whiteknights Park, Reading University grounds, Reading, UK, on 2011-09-25.

Thursday
Sep292011

Hybotid Fly

A tiny fly: probably a male Hybotid fly, possibly Trichinomyia flavipes (Diptera: Hybotidae).

Photos taken in the Wilderness, Whiteknights Park, Reading University grounds, Reading, UK, on 2011-09-24.

Wednesday
Sep282011

Phantom Crane Flies

A pair of phantom crane flies mating, probably Ptychoptera albimana (Diptera: Ptychopteridae), judging by the white tarsi on the hind legs of the female (ID suggested by Roger Thomason here).  The colour of the abdomen seems to be quite variable in this species.

Photo taken in the field below Chazey Wood, near Caversham, UK, on 2011-09-19.

Tuesday
Sep272011

Platypezid Fly

A tiny grey and black fly that looked like it might be laying eggs on fungus growing on rotting logs.  Probably a female Polyporivora picta (Diptera: Platypezidae).  Mainly yellowish legs, weak bands on the abdomen and a black scutellum (not shown well here). Identified by Menno Reemer in the comments below.

The following fly which I photographed in the same area just 4 minutes later is a female Polyporivora ornata.  White scutellum, stronger bands on the abdomen and mainly black legs (not shown well here).

Photos taken in the Wilderness, Whiteknights Park, Reading University grounds, Reading, UK, on 2011-09-25.