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Photo#585943
fly - Phortica variegata

fly - Phortica variegata
Groton, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, USA
October 9, 2011
Size: 3.7mm
This was one of the flies hovering around my head while I was walking on a trail in the woods.

Images of this individual: tag all
fly - Phortica variegata fly - Phortica variegata

Moved
Moved from Phortica.

Moved
Moved from Steganinae.

Moved
Moved from Amiota.

I decided to split Amiota and Phortica following recent literature.

Cf. variegata
I figured it out. This must be Phortica, which may be a subgenus of Amiota or full genus depending on how much you like to split. Species variegata is similar.

This fly bothers me
The behavior and white "shoulders" are correct for Amiota, and structurally it is consistent. However, the species with patterned thorax and striped legs (picta) is not found in New England. Because of the markings this fly does not fit Amiota s. str., the local subgenus.

The fly on my arm already in the guide is likely Amiota leucostoma, the common species.

Moved
Moved from Vinegar Flies.

Moved
Moved from Flies.

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