Identification, Images, & Information
For Insects, Spiders & Their Kin
For the United States & Canada
Clickable Guide
Moths Butterflies Flies Caterpillars Flies Dragonflies Flies Mantids Cockroaches Bees and Wasps Walkingsticks Earwigs Ants Termites Hoppers and Kin Hoppers and Kin Beetles True Bugs Fleas Grasshoppers and Kin Ticks Spiders Scorpions Centipedes Millipedes

Calendar

TaxonomyBrowseInfoImagesLinksBooksData
Photo#1639874
red fly with raised legs - Saltella sphondylii

red fly with raised legs - Saltella sphondylii
Ludwig Prairie Preserve, Winneshiek County, Iowa, USA
June 18, 2018
Size: ~4 mm
I was really puzzled by this little fly, trying to figure what it might be. Then I remembered watching black scavenger flies move their legs in much the same way as this fly did, and when I looked at Sepsidae, there were some examples in the genus Saltella that were a very close match. Obviously, this fly is not a "black" scavenger fly though, so it may belong somewhere else.

Images of this individual: tag all
red fly with raised legs - Saltella sphondylii red fly with raised legs - Saltella sphondylii red fly with raised legs - Saltella sphondylii

Moved
Moved from Flies.

Saltella sphondylii?
My first impression is Saltella sphondylii. Color is variable.

 
Saltella sphondylii
Yes, that is what I thought too, John. I think this is a female, since I have photos (not as clear as these) of what I thought might be an S. sphondylii male taken at Ludwig Prairie Preserve on 5/31/2018.
Should I post photos of that fly on Bugguide too?

 
OK
OK

Comment viewing options
Select your preferred way to display the comments and click 'Save settings' to activate your changes.