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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Flies (Diptera) » "Acalyptratae" » Tephritoidea » Picture-winged Flies (Ulidiidae) » Otitinae » Cephaliini » Delphinia » Delphinia picta
Photo#4409
Picture wing - Delphinia picta
Copyright © 2004 Richard Leung

Picture wing - Delphinia picta
Springfield, Virginia, USA
May 18, 2004
I think this is a variety of picture wing fly, but I'm not sure. I often see them resting on the siding of my house, but this individual was in an azalea bush with its wings spread out like freaky ears. Any help in identifying is appreciated.
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Contributed by Richard Leung on 27 June, 2004 - 3:50pm

Delphinia picta (Ulidiidae)
This is Delphinia picta, a member of the Ulidiidae (formerly Otitidae). Easy to identify once you have seen Allen Norrbom's pictures on http://www.bugguide.net/node/view/5930. So I was wrong in my earlier comment when I agreed to fruitfly...

Paul

http://www.diptera.info
… Paul Beuk, 18 August, 2004 - 2:02am login or register to post comments

Probably a fruit fly
This looks to me like a fruit fly, family Tephritidae, but the two families (Tephritidae and Otitidae for picture-winged flies), can be very difficult to distinguish. I hear that fruit flies have long setae (bristle-like hairs) on top of the head, whereas Otitids do not. Great photo in any event:-)
… Eric R. Eaton, 28 June, 2004 - 11:41am login or register to post comments

 
Setae on head
Many tephritids have long setae, sometimes modified (like in the medfly) but occasionally they have rather short ones. The wing venation is the final decider but that may be difficult to see in dark-winged species like this. I agree with fruitfly, though.

Paul

http://www.diptera.info
… Paul Beuk, 16 August, 2004 - 6:18am login or register to post comments

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