Is this a Lauxaniid? Dare I say Neogriponeura sordida? If so, will I mangle the pronounciation? - Minettia flaveola

looks more like Minettia flav

looks more like Minettia flaveola....

… Martin Hauser, 27 May, 2009 - 8:21pm

Thanks, Martin, that's it.

...

… Ron Hemberger, 27 May, 2009 - 9:05pm

Seems to be one of the most c

Seems to be one of the most common flies in Ca!

… Martin Hauser, 27 May, 2009 - 9:50pm

It always blows me away that the common ones

are so underrepresented in posts. (Witness house flies.) Personally, I don't remember ever seeing one of these, but it showed up as a speck in a dark, hard-to-shoot setting. I noticed this one on a hike that took place much earlier than I'm normally out. Do flies tend to be active earlier in the day than other insects. (Saw many neat/different flies on this particular hike.)

… Ron Hemberger, 27 May, 2009 - 10:19pm

We have a malaisetrap with a

We have a malaisetrap with a gallon full of these flies... never seen a species so abundant. In the morning the flies are looking for food and warming up and later the day they are looking for mates...very generally speaking...

… Martin Hauser, 27 May, 2009 - 10:31pm

....

Sorry Ron, but I just can't help myself.....
How is an area "nearly" damp?
Is that like when people say "that was a near miss". No it wasn't, it was a near hit.

Nice pics by the way!

… Sam Houston, 27 May, 2009 - 12:06pm

"Nearly damp", explained.

Well, it wants to be damp - that's why the willow is there - but we're in a damn desert.
Thanks for a laugh, Sam.

… Ron Hemberger, 27 May, 2009 - 12:54pm