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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Flies (Diptera) » Calyptratae » Oestroidea » Polleniidae » Cluster flies (Pollenia)
Photo#241208
Copyright © 2008 Arthur Scott Macmillan

"Cluster Fly, "( Genus Pollenia, species: Possibly rudis) - Pollenia - Male
Campbell, Santa Clara County, California, USA
November 13, 2008
I think that these two photos are of the same individual, though with the angle and lighting they look very different. I am basing my ID on that given to a frassed photo, so ID is in need of confirmation!

Images of this individual: tag all
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Contributed by Arthur Scott Macmillan on 22 November, 2008 - 3:25am
Last updated 15 February, 2009 - 10:53pm

Thanks for your help!
I changed the title to reflect a consensus on the genus level only.
… Arthur Scott Macmillan, 25 November, 2008 - 7:25pm login or register to post comments

I would say
yes to Pollenia, but if you notice all of the species pages have been emptied because even the experts feel IDs to species are not very reliable.
… John R. Maxwell, 22 November, 2008 - 7:48am login or register to post comments

 
Further accord on Pollenia
Interesting stuff on species, John.
… Ron Hemberger, 22 November, 2008 - 10:21am login or register to post comments

 
I can't remember
what happened. Either someone decided we need a "real expert" to re-ID them, or a "real expert" said we can't ID them.
… John R. Maxwell, 22 November, 2008 - 11:39am login or register to post comments

 
Fact
is there are several Pollenia species, which can't be identified from images alone.
… Matthias Buck, 22 November, 2008 - 1:20pm login or register to post comments

 
Good to know.
This would be helpful info to have on the genus Info pages. I'd appreciate such knowledge throughout BG. (Weren't contributors once able to add such material to Info pages?)
… Ron Hemberger, 22 November, 2008 - 1:51pm login or register to post comments

 
Comments
The ability to add comments to info pages was removed because new users were asking questions there. Now a request must be made in the guide page improvement forum.
… John R. Maxwell, 22 November, 2008 - 1:55pm login or register to post comments

 
Thanks, John, I'll keep that in mind.
Generally, I think it's a good idea to let people know what they can expect in the way of IDs. I realize this info is often hard to cut in to existing pages, but it's something to consider when new pages are built.
… Ron Hemberger, 22 November, 2008 - 4:31pm login or register to post comments

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