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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Flies (Diptera) » "Nematocera" (Non-Brachycera) » Gnats, Gall Midges, and March Flies (Bibionomorpha) » Fungus Gnats and Gall Midges (Sciaroidea) » Predatory Fungus Gnats (Keroplatidae) » Macrocera
Photo#237086
Predatory Fungus Fly - Macrocera
Copyright © 2008 Lynette Elliott

Predatory Fungus Fly - Macrocera
Puyallup, Pierce County, Washington, USA
October 28, 2008
Macrocera?
Looks quite like an ichneumon wasp.
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Contributed by Lynette Elliott on 30 October, 2008 - 7:04pm
Last updated 4 August, 2009 - 9:15pm

Possibly same as...
Resembles this one from Washington; yours might be the female.
… John F. Carr, 31 December, 2011 - 7:05pm login or register to post comments

 
Yes
they certainly do look similar. Thanks John.
… Lynette Elliott, 4 January, 2012 - 9:52am login or register to post comments

Moved
Moved from Predatory Fungus Gnats.
… Lynette Elliott, 4 August, 2009 - 9:15pm login or register to post comments

Well...
Typically I would agree with your ID except for one problem - where are the halteres if it is a fly? Could they be there and I'm just not seeing them? The wings (need four if a wasp) do not look typical of an ichneumon in any event, even though the rest of the body certainly might. The resting position is also very un-ichneumon-like. It seems clear that there are only two wings in this image.
… Ross Hill, 5 November, 2008 - 5:03pm login or register to post comments

 
I did the same thing
first I thought wasp, couldn't match it and then resorted to my field guides. Then I found this fly, and couldn't see any halteres in any of my pics. I chalked it up to they must be hidden. It certainly flies more like a gnat than a wasp as well.
… Lynette Elliott, 5 November, 2008 - 8:07pm login or register to post comments

 
Hidden halteres.
They 'are' hidden. Stalked, and the part usually visible is obscured by light reflecting off the wings. Moving this to the family page for now.
… Eric R. Eaton, 9 December, 2008 - 2:27pm login or register to post comments

 
great,
Thanks Eric.
… Lynette Elliott, 9 December, 2008 - 2:37pm login or register to post comments

Odd...
Lynette, can you provide an approximate size?
… Ross Hill, 5 November, 2008 - 12:49pm login or register to post comments

 
size
approximately 10 mm.
… Lynette Elliott, 5 November, 2008 - 1:34pm login or register to post comments

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