Lauxaniid Fly

A black Lauxaniid fly, probably a Calliopum sp (family Lauxaniidae, order Diptera).

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

Slime Mould

A brown fibrous slime mould, probably a Stemonitis sp, growing on a decaying log.

Photo taken in the Wilderness, Whiteknights Park, Reading University grounds, Reading, UK, on 2011-10-01.

Heleomyzid Fly

I am starting to make inroads into my back-log of photos of small orange flies: from last November, this is a Heleomyzid fly, probably a Suillia sp (family Heleomyzidae, order Diptera).  Note the small spines along the leading edge of the wing; these are one of the characteristic features of this family.

Photos taken in Whiteknights Park, Reading University grounds, Reading, UK, on 2010-11-03.

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.