Syrphid Fly (Ocyptamus sp. possibly antiphates)

CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Syrphid Fly (Ocyptamus sp. possibly antiphates)

Family Syrphidae – Syrphid Flies
Subfamily Syrphinae
Tribe Syrphini
Genus Ocyptamus

These types of syrphids are also referred to as hover flies or flower flies.

They are beneficial. Larvae preys on softbodied insects including aphids.

Adults pollinate.

Learn: http://www.syrphidae.com/whatisasyrphidae.php

Learn more: https://bugguide.net/node/view/1644440/bgpage

general syrphid fly info: http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/NE/syrphid_flies.html

Shown on Florida Native Plant: PAINTEDLEAF; FIRE-ON-THE-MOUNTAIN (Poinsettia cyathophora)

My take: https://floridawildlifegardentails.wordpress.com/2015/08/05/aphids-are-good-wait-what/

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Black Scavenger Fly (Family Sepsidae)

CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Black Scavenger Fly (Family Sepsidae)

New to my buggy life list.  Well, not exactly new but the first clear photo I’ve gotten of this miniscule decomposer so I could identify what type of fly it was.

“Larvae live in excrement and various types of decaying matter. Adults found near material that the larvae feed on” (source: https://bugguide.net/node/view/8677)

These adults seem interested in areas where carcasses of aphids were left behind from molting and/or brachinid wasps, ladybug and syrphid fly larvae activity.

Learn:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sepsidae

Shown on Florida Native Plant: WILD LIME; LIME PRICKLYASH (Zanthoxylum fagara)

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Hanging-thief Robberfly (Diogmites sp. possibly neoternatus)

CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Hanging-thief Robberfly (Diogmites sp. possibly neoternatus)

Order Diptera – Flies
No Taxon Orthorrhapha
Superfamily Asiloidea
Family Asilidae – Robber Flies
Subfamily Dasypogoninae

predatory on other insects.

Learn: http://www.hr-rna.com/RNA/Main%20pages/Diogmites%20frame%20page.htm

http://plaza.ufl.edu/dcollins/Robberflies/pages/IMG_6901.htm

Shown on Florida Native Plant: PINEBARREN GOLDENROD (Solidago fistulosa)

My take: https://floridawildlifegardentails.wordpress.com/2015/09/03/i-was-robbed/

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Syrphid Fly (Dioprosopa clavata)

CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Syrphid Fly (Dioprosopa clavata)

Synonyms Pseudodoros clavatus

This beneficial pollinator uses aphids as a larval host and this one was laying eggs on southern beeblossom before settling in on the frogfruit for a drink.

photo of larvae: https://centralfloridacritteroftheday.wordpress.com/2014/06/15/syrphid-fly-larvae-dioprosopa-clavata/

Also called hover flies or flower flies.

Learn: http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/galveston/beneficials/beneficial-28_hover_or_syrphid_flies.htm

Learn to identify: http://www.canacoll.org/Diptera/Staff/Skevington/Syrphidae/Baccha_Pseudodoros/Baccha_Pseudodoros.jpg

Shown on Florida Native Plant: TICKSEED (Coreopsis sp.)

My Take: http://floridawildlifegardentails.wordpress.com/2015/08/04/who-are-you-calling-a-caterpillar/

Take 2: http://floridawildlifegardentails.wordpress.com/2015/08/05/aphids-are-good-wait-what/

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Soldier Fly (Tribe Stratiomyini)

CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Soldier Fly (Tribe Stratiomyini)

Found this guy sleeping in the early morning when I took the trash to the curb.

possibly Odontomyia cincta (male)

The larvae are aquatic and feed on algae.

Infraorder Stratiomyomorpha
Family Stratiomyidae – Soldier flies
Subfamily Stratiomyinae
Tribe Stratiomyini

Learn: https://bugguide.net/node/view/6994

Shown on Florida Native Plant: SOUTHERN BEEBLOSSOM (Oenothera simulans) (synonym: Gaura angustifolia)

only bees (and a few wasps) pollinate more plants than flies

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Stiletto Fly (Ozodiceromyia sp. possibly notata)

CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Stiletto Fly (Ozodiceromyia sp. possibly notata)

New genus for my buggy life list.

Order Diptera – Flies
No Taxon Orthorrhapha
Superfamily Asiloidea
Family Therevidae – Stiletto Flies
Subfamily Therevinae

“Adults are nectar feeders, while the larvae are voracious predators of soil arthropods”

source: http://web.archive.org/web/20161221220045/https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/plant/ppd/Lucid/Therevidae/Worldtherevidae/Media/Worldstiletto/html/introduction.html

Learn: http://web.archive.org/web/20190325131025/http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/plant/ppd/Lucid/Therevidae/Worldtherevidae/Media/Worldstiletto/html/Ozodiceromyia%20.htm

Shown on Florida Native Plant: PINEBARREN GOLDENROD (Solidago fistulosa)

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Robberfly ( Lampria bicolor)

CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Robberfly ( Lampria bicolor)

New to my buggy life list.  Pretty excited since this seems to be an unusual find in Florida.
I am basing that on the fact that I-naturalist doesn’t have any documented sightings in the state. https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/61573-Lampria-bicolor

Order Diptera – Flies
No Taxon Orthorrhapha
Superfamily Asiloidea
Family Asilidae – Robber Flies
Subfamily Laphriinae

It does appear on the List of Florida Asilidae: http://plaza.ufl.edu/dcollins/Robberflies/frame2.htm

predatory on other insects.

Shown on Florida Native Plant: : Spanish Needles (Bidens alba)

My take: https://floridawildlifegardentails.wordpress.com/2015/09/03/i-was-robbed/

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Horse Fly (Tabanus sp. possibly fumipennis)

CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Horse Fly (Tabanus sp. possibly fumipennis)

New to my buggy life list.  This VERY LARGE! female had landed on the trash can.

Order Diptera – Flies
No Taxon Orthorrhapha
Infraorder Tabanomorpha
Family Tabanidae – Horse and Deer Flies
Subfamily Tabaninae – Horse Flies
Tribe Tabanini

Learn: https://bugguide.net/node/view/71919

Learn more: http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/livestock/deer_fly.htm

Horse Fly (Tabanus sp. possibly fumipennis)

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Horse Fly (Tabanus sp. possibly fuscopunctatus)

CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Horse Fly (Tabanus sp. possibly fuscopunctatus)

New to my buggy life list.  This VERY LARGE! female attracted my attention when she flew by me and landed on the front of my car in the driveway.
Feeds on mammals. Not particularly inclined to bite humans, but should you get bit you will know it. More a pest of livestock.

Order Diptera – Flies
No Taxon Orthorrhapha
Infraorder Tabanomorpha
Family Tabanidae – Horse and Deer Flies
Subfamily Tabaninae – Horse Flies
Tribe Tabanini

Learn: https://bugguide.net/node/view/82093

Learn more: http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/livestock/deer_fly.htm

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Green Hover Fly (Ornidia obesa)

CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Green Hover Fly (Ornidia obesa)

New to my buggy life list.  Some resources state that the larvae develop in semi-liquid waste including latrines, and the following website shows egg laying on vegetation directly above a compost area.

http://www.backyardnature.net/yucatan/greenfly.htm

Family Syrphidae (Syrphid Flies)
Subfamily Eristalinae
Tribe Volucellini

Other common names: flower fly

There are indications that they may carry bacteria, but also be beneficial in converting coffee waste into cattle feed.  Mixed bag of beneficial/scary in my book.

Learn: https://bugguide.net/node/view/35340

Interesting forensic study: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/45581745_Breeding_of_Ornidia_obesa_Diptera_Syrphidae_Eristalinae_on_Pig_Carcasses_in_Brazil

Shown on Florida Native Plant: Bidens alba

Another view….and it did thwart the tiny spider from grabbing hold.

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Secondary Screwworm Fly (Cochliomyia macellaria)

CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Secondary Screwworm Fly (Cochliomyia macellaria)

One of the Blow Flies (Calliphoridae Family)

May present a problem with livestock that have untreated wounds:  “…this species does not feed on actual living tissue as does the primary screwworm. Secondary screwworms invade to feed on dead tissues…”

” The secondary screwworm is considered to be very beneficial as a decomposer.”

“…this species has gained recognition in the field of forensic entomology as a principal species on which to base postmortem interval estimations…”

Learn:  http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/livestock/secondary_screwworm.htm

Shown on Florida Native Plant GROUNDSEL TREE; SEA MYRTLE (Baccharis halimifolia), a.k.a. Saltbush

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Stiletto Fly (Penniverpa sp. possibly festina) mating

CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Stiletto Fly (Penniverpa sp. possibly festina) mating

Stiletto Fly (Penniverpa sp. possibly festina) mating

Order Diptera – Flies
No Taxon Orthorrhapha
Superfamily Asiloidea
Family Therevidae – Stiletto Flies
Subfamily Therevinae

Adults are nectar feeders, while the larvae are voracious predators of soil arthropods

source: http://web.archive.org/web/20161221220045/https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/plant/ppd/Lucid/Therevidae/Worldtherevidae/Media/Worldstiletto/html/introduction.html

Learn: The phylogeny of stiletto flies (Diptera: Therevidae)
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/282672191_The_phylogeny_of_stiletto_flies_Diptera_Therevidae

Learn more: An annotated catalogue of the New World Therevidae (Insecta: Diptera: Asiloidea)
https:/pdfs.semanticscholar.org/4f85/1d5429b40ef0846ff31c2839b1d6b763437c.pdf&usg=AOvVaw1al58BAZ4ud4Lq1iB9_oYv

Shown on Florida Native Plant:   BLACKBERRY (Rubus spp.)

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Black Bee Killer Robberfly (Mallophora sp. possibly atra)

CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Black Bee Killer Robberfly (Mallophora sp. possibly atra)

New to my buggy life list. I get bee killers frequently at this time of year but this is the first I’ve seen with this coloration.

Key plus Learn more: https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in591

synonym Mallophora nigra (https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=133770#null)

Bee Mimic; diptera; predatory.  The larval stage of this insect’s lifecycle lives in the soil and are predatory on some pest soil dwellers such has grubs.

Although robber flies are predators, they are sometimes prey for other animals, including spiders, birds, and larger predatory insects like assassin bugs, praying mantids, and even other robber flies. Moles and underground arthropod predators, such as centipedes and ground beetle larvae sometimes eat them. (source: http://www.uky.edu/Ag/CritterFiles/casefile/insects/flies/robber/robber.htm)

Learn about Robberflies: http://www.geller-grimm.de/general.htm

Shown on Florida Native Plant: Bidens alba

My take:
Killer on the Loose
https://floridawildlifegardentails.wordpress.com/2016/09/08/killer-on-the-loose/

Take Two:

I Was Robbed!

I Was Robbed!

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Florida Bee Killer Robberfly (Mallophora bomboides)

CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Florida Bee Killer Robberfly (Mallophora bomboides)

Bee Mimic; diptera; predatory.  The larval stage of this insect’s lifecycle lives in the soil and are predatory on some pest soil dwellers such has grubs.

Although robber flies are predators, they are sometimes prey for other animals, including spiders, birds, and larger predatory insects like assassin bugs, praying mantids, and even other robber flies. Moles and underground arthropod predators, such as centipedes and ground beetle larvae sometimes eat them. (source: http://www.uky.edu/Ag/CritterFiles/casefile/insects/flies/robber/robber.htm)

Learn about Robberflies: http://www.geller-grimm.de/general.htm

Key plus Learn more: http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/misc/flies/bee_killers.htm

Shown on Florida Native Plant: Bidens alba

My take:
Killer on the Loose
https://floridawildlifegardentails.wordpress.com/2016/09/08/killer-on-the-loose/

Take Two:

I Was Robbed!

I Was Robbed!

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Thick-headed Fly (Physoconops sp.)

CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Thick-headed Fly (Physoconops sp.)

New to my buggy life list.

larvae of all conopids are internal parasites, most of Hymenoptera (source: Wikipedia)

Superfamily Sciomyzoidea
Family Conopidae – Thick-headed Flies
Subfamily Conopinae

Learn:  https://bugguide.net/node/view/12766

A Checklist of the Conopididae of Florida lists 8 species. https://www.fdacs.gov/Divisions-Offices/Plant-Industry/Florida-State-Collection-of-Arthropods/Explore-the-Collection/Insect-Collection/Diptera/Diptera-Families-of-Florida/A-Checklist-of-the-Conopididae-of-Florida

Shown on non-native buttonweed.

Click here for additional photo

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Green Horsefly (Chlorotabanus crepuscularis)

CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Green Horsefly (Chlorotabanus crepuscularis)

only green tabanid in North America.

larva predaceous. Female adults bite mammals. Flies are pollinators too.

Learn: http://bugguide.net/node/view/17583

Shown on Florida Native Plant: TALL ELEPHANTSFOOT (Elephantopus elatus)

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Stiletto Fly (Penniverpa sp. possibly festina)

CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Stiletto Fly (Penniverpa sp. possibly festina)

Order Diptera – Flies
No Taxon Orthorrhapha
Superfamily Asiloidea
Family Therevidae – Stiletto Flies
Subfamily Therevinae

Adults are nectar feeders, while the larvae are voracious predators of soil arthropods

source: http://web.archive.org/web/20161221220045/https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/plant/ppd/Lucid/Therevidae/Worldtherevidae/Media/Worldstiletto/html/introduction.html

Shown on Florida Native Plant GROUNDSEL TREE; SEA MYRTLE (Baccharis halimifolia), a.k.a. Saltbush

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Tachinid Fly (Archytas sp. possibly rufiventris)

CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Tachinid fly (Archytas sp. possibly rufiventris)

Beneficial: Parasitic Fly. control of pest caterpillar (think armyworm and cutworm!) which they use as food for their developing larva.

Performs some pollination as adults take nectar.

Tachinids are parasitoids of other insects, but the most common hosts are caterpillars.
Owlet Moths (Noctuidae) » Cutworm or Dart Moths (Noctuinae) and armyworms are known hosts per Taxonomic and Host Catalogue of the Tachinidae of America North of Mexico
http://www.nadsdiptera.org/Tach/Nearctic/CatNAmer/Genera/Archytas.html

Learn: https://texasinsects.tamu.edu/tachinid-and-flesh-flies/

Family Tachinidae – Parasitic Flies
Subfamily Tachininae
Tribe Tachinini

Shown on a False Buttonweed (Spermacoce sp. probably verticillata) which is not native to Florida.

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Yellow Fly of the Dismal Swamp (Diachlorus ferrugatus)

CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Yellow Fly of the Dismal Swamp (Diachlorus ferrugatus)

Females BITE!

Natural repellent tip:  stripped off some fresh bayberry leaves and rubbed them on your extremities.

Order: Diptera. Subfamily Tabaninae – Horse Flies

I take exception to the common name chosen by Bugguide. My swamp is HARDLY dismal LOL  https://bugguide.net/node/view/50378

Learn: http://entomology.ifas.ufl.edu/creatures/livestock/yellow_fly.htm

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Syrphid Fly (Palpada furcata)

CENTRAL FLORIDA CRITTER OF THE DAY: Syrphid Fly (Palpada furcata)

Other common names: hover fly; flower fly

Learn: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palpada_furcata

species identification: http://bugguide.net/node/view/856492

Shown on Florida Native Plant: Bidens alba

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