Rainbow Eyed Fly! - Bactrocera oleae - BugGuide.Net

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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Flies (Diptera) » "Acalyptratae" » Tephritoidea » Fruit Flies (Tephritidae) » Tropical Fruit Flies (Dacinae) » Bactrocera » Olive Fruit Fly (Bactrocera oleae)

Photo#258763

Copyright © 2009 Arthur Scott Macmillan

Rainbow Eyed Fly! - Bactrocera oleae

Santa Clara, Santa Clara County, California, USA
March 15, 2009
Size: around 5mm

When I was through unsuccessfully looking for bug macro possibilities on a long walk, I got home and found this unusual fly on the front door! Abdomen is marked like

, but there are many differences.

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Contributed by Arthur Scott Macmillan on 16 March, 2009 - 1:27pm

sweet

i wish i had an idea to share... will learn from others!

… v belov, 16 March, 2009 - 2:16pm

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Not an expert...

...but I'm about as confident as I can get with my IDs on this one. It's an Olive Fruit Fly. I live on an historic ranch that is filled with olive groves and I see these flies quite commonly, though I've never seen their eyes look quite so spectacular. Good job on photographing this one!

… Harsi S. Parker, 16 March, 2009 - 1:46pm

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Thanks Harsi...

...I do believe you are right! The other individual listed in the guide is from a city less than ten miles away, and it seems pretty distinctive! thanks for your help!

… Arthur Scott Macmillan, 16 March, 2009 - 1:56pm

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Nice find, Mac.

(Or should I congratulate the fly for finding you?) The rainbow eyes may be a lighting artifact; I've seen that before.

… Ron Hemberger, 16 March, 2009 - 1:40pm

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Rainbows not an anomaly...

...I just went and checked my own images of this species and I've got the same rainbows visible too. I still think the Mediterranean Fruit Fly's eyes are more spectacular though...

Oh, and Mac, if you are looking for more info on this fly, be sure to follow the links at the bottom of the Info page (if you haven't already).

… Harsi S. Parker, 16 March, 2009 - 2:07pm

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Hi, Ron

I was just about to add that the eyes appeared the same to the unaided eye. It could be caused by the light reflecting off of the white door, but I can say at least that it is not caused by a flash.

Could the dark areas on the wings be stigma?

The white structure seems unusual to me...(sorry, I forgot the correct anatomical term for it).

… Arthur Scott Macmillan, 16 March, 2009 - 1:54pm

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