Other true flies

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Other true flies

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Discussion

Curiosity wrote:

16 May 2025

Thanks, Span102. I was excited to be able to record the behaviour! If you would like to see more images of these flies fighting, have a look at sightings 4434157 & 3391252 on CNM. When looking for an ID, these sightings alerted me to the flies' tendency to fight for possession of fungal caps!

Tapeigaster annulipes

Span102 wrote:

16 May 2025

Love seeing the behaviour! Territoriality at such a small scale!

Tapeigaster annulipes

DiBickers wrote:

5 May 2025

The antennae and eyes indicate this is a Fly (& if you look closely just under the wing in front of the hind leg you can see the little yellow halteres). I’m not particularly good with flies but thinking this looks like it could belong to Family Conopidae or Family Syrphidae😊

Diptera (order)

DiBickers wrote:

5 May 2025

I’m not particularly good with Fly ID’s, but these look like Freeloader Flies (the paler ones you mention for this sighting look similar to those in the Stomosis Genus).
If so, they are considered kleptoparasites of predatory invertebrates and I’ve often found them helping themselves to a free feed on the spider’s dead/dying prey.
Apparently some Orchards are known to use prey/carrion mimicry (kleptomyiophily) to attract kleptoparastic flies to pollinate their flowers. I have attached a link to the article if you’d like to have a read😊
https://nossa.org.au/2015/07/24/orchid-pollination-strategy-for-corunastylis-littoralis-part-one-of-two-part-summary-excerpts/

Milichiidae (family)

DiBickers wrote:

5 May 2025

I’m not particularly good with Fly ID’s, but these look like Freeloader Flies.
If so, they are considered kleptoparasites of predatory invertebrates and I’ve often found them helping themselves to a free feed on the spider’s dead/dying prey.
Apparently some Orchards are known to use prey/carrion mimicry (kleptomyiophily) to attract kleptoparastic flies to pollinate their flowers. I have attached a link to the article if you’d like to have a read😊
https://nossa.org.au/2015/07/24/orchid-pollination-strategy-for-corunastylis-littoralis-part-one-of-two-part-summary-excerpts/

Milichiidae (family)