Fly with

Moved

… John F. Carr, 13 August, 2011 - 10:21am

Moved

… John F. Carr, 22 July, 2010 - 6:09pm

Identification

This is a male specimen of a Dolichopus species, a genus which reaches it highest species diversity in the Holarctic. The enlarged and flattened terminal tarsal segments of the fore leg are specific and are usually termend Male Secondary Sexual Characters (MSSC), ornaments that are used during courtship. They are definitely not pollen. Concerning the identification of the species, I have collected it (or a closely related species) in southern Ontario, and it might be related to D. willistoni (if I am not mistaken).

… dr Marc Pollet, 22 July, 2010 - 6:18am

Cf. D. pulchrimanus

According to the catalog(1) Dolichopus willistoni is a junior synonym of D. pulchrimanus, which does have a black and white forked fifth tarsomere.(2)

… John F. Carr, 12 August, 2011 - 6:31pm

Moved

Moved from ID Request.

… John F. Carr, 4 June, 2010 - 6:43am

Looks like

a Longlegged Fly in the Family Dolichopodidae. The "flags" might be pollinia (packets of pollen) picked up from flowers.

I could be wrong on both counts, however, so wait to see what the experts have to say.

… Ken Wolgemuth, 3 June, 2010 - 10:04pm

Secondary sexual characters

Male Dolichopodidae sometimes have modified legs.

… John F. Carr, 4 June, 2010 - 6:37am

Thanks, John. They are a ver

Thanks, John. They are a very interesting accessory!

… William Hull, 4 June, 2010 - 7:51pm

Never would've guessed.

Thanks for the explanation.

… Ken Wolgemuth, 4 June, 2010 - 11:02am

I have seen something close to this...

...but I haven't been able to get a very good picture because they are very small and don't sit still very long. These expansions are on each of these flies and in the exact spot. My flies and their expanded section look different than yours and I am still waiting for them to be identified.

… Ron M., 4 June, 2010 - 12:30am