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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Flies (Diptera) » "Acalyptratae" » Tephritoidea » Picture-winged Flies (Ulidiidae) » Otitinae » Genera incertae sedis possibly related to Cephaliini » Diacrita » Diacrita costalis
Photo#98072
Picture Wing Fly - Diacrita costalis
Copyright © 2007 Su Lyn Rogers

Picture Wing Fly - Diacrita costalis
Between Mesa and Apache Junction, Maricopa/Pima County Line County, Arizona, USA
October 24, 2006
Size: 1/2"
These insects were very interested in a bananna peel. They constantly moved their wings back and forth, and there was a small whitish thing that also moved near where each wing attached to the body.

Images of this individual: tag all
Picture Wing Fly - Diacrita costalis Fly, Wasp, Bee, or What??? - Diacrita costalis
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Contributed by Su Lyn Rogers on 13 March, 2007 - 12:50am
Last updated 14 April, 2012 - 11:16am

Your comment that a small whitish thing
was moving near where each wing (two) were attached gives away the fact that it is a fly even without the image. Flies (Diptera) have two wings and a pair of halteres (small clublike sometimes whitish things) as opposed to the four wings of bees and wasps. Fascinating appendages which probably have multiple purposes from gyroscopic to helping the flies thoracic walls vibrate since their wings vibrate faster than any muscles could contract and relax.
… john and jane balaban, 13 March, 2007 - 1:45pm login or register to post comments

 
Very Interesting Info
Thanks for your comment!
… Su Lyn Rogers, 14 March, 2007 - 6:20pm login or register to post comments

 
Su, did you know you can move your post to the right section?
It's easy, and it saves an editor's time. Click the Help tab, then Images for details. If you get stuck, let me know and I'll help. (Also, you won't need to add the scientific name, as the software will do that automatically when you move the images.)
… Ron Hemberger, 14 March, 2007 - 6:40pm login or register to post comments

 
Moved to Guide
Thanks for your help, Ron.
… Su Lyn Rogers, 14 March, 2007 - 7:26pm login or register to post comments

 
Very good point!
You'll often hear that flies have two wings, while bees and wasps have four. Problem is, counting wings! See the halteres, and you're sure there are only two wings.
… Ron Hemberger, 13 March, 2007 - 3:08pm login or register to post comments

Picture-Wing Fly, I'd Say
Looks like this one, also from Arizona:
… Ron Hemberger, 13 March, 2007 - 1:24am login or register to post comments

 
So, shall we call this Diacrita costalis?
Yes, looks identical to mine.
… Su Lyn Rogers, 13 March, 2007 - 10:11pm login or register to post comments

 
I'm sure that's safe.
It's a very distinctive fly.
… Ron Hemberger, 13 March, 2007 - 11:03pm login or register to post comments

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