where are the fly enthusiasts?

[w1]

Hard to believe there aren't many people talking about flys on here. First off they're a challenge to catch, many are very rare, every type of diptera are interesting, many species are attractive (lol), look great in collections. My list goes on. Caught my first big fly last year a mydas xanthopterus this totally changed my life. Maybe its a good thing there aren't many fly people? Still waiting to catch an Archilestris missed one last summee and its on my mind everyday. Won't hold my breath for a response on flys!

[w1]

Caught a nemomydas.

[evra]

Both of the Pepsis mimic species are pretty common in the high country of Arizona in August. Wyliea mydas and Mydas xanthopterus I mean. I collected a few of each back in 2011 while I was collecting Nokomis fritillaries. It's interesting because I don't think I've ever seen a Pepsis up at that elevation, and I don't think I've seen either fly species down in the desert areas where Pepsis are common.

[w1]

The mydas xanthopterus in California is a bit smaller without the dark margins on wings. There are many Pepsis on the way to the high country but understand what you're saying about the pepsis. Could you send your data for these species? [e-mail]. caught my first Hemipepsis of the socal season.

[johnnyboy]

I am a fly enthusiast and I have a friend who has a really great collection of diptera.

I caught a big female Pantophthalmus bellardi timber fly some 20 years ago in Ecuador and I've now got one drawer with some larger species of fly, mostly predatory, from around the world. I've got one male mydas fly, from Peru, no ID yet.

I also collect mostly butterflies, moths and beetles as well as dragonflies and other small orders.

Johnny

[w1]

Any pictures? Glad to hear there are other fly guys around. My Asilid season has been slow #1 Laphria trux has been the best. Working on getting more next month should be a blast for large flies.

[hibiscusmile]

Do you guys just pin the flies or use for feeders? just wondering.

[bichos]

Most flies are best displayed and preserved by pinning YES.

[w1]

Mallophora, Eccritosia, Microstylum the list goes on... so many wonderful interesting flies to...Pin!!!! Of course common ones sometimes are fed to my black widow.

[admin]

Here's a pic I took of a midas fly. They are awesome.

[hibiscusmile]

Yes, so many interesting things each day around us to see, and most times we just walk on by.....

[w1]

Jul 22, 2013 20:05:30 GMT -8 admin said:

Here's a pic I took of a midas fly. They are awesome.

Nice Rhaphiomidas Clark!!

[coleophile]

I love "interesting" flies. Here's a deer bot fly captured earlier this year.

[doros]

I am a Fly enthusiast! I'm interested in saproxylic and myrmecophilous Diptera- particularly Hoverflies. Anyone here into those?

Doros

[nomad]

Although I do not collect Diptera, I have posted such as the thread below this one, which I found interesting but it did not even warrent a comment from any fly entusiast, no one here even bothered to name those visiting the fungi?

[colin12303]

I collect asilidae and also if i see them wasp and bee mimic hoverflies.
Trouble i find is trying to id them as even the small number of British ones a lot are very alike and also
variable in size and colour

[doros]

Hi Colin,

Have you ever collected Pocota, Doros, or Criorhina?

Cheers!

[colin12303]

Doros no,the other 2 i think so.I have looked at images but havn't done positive id's on them yet

[doros]

Hi Colin,

Do you mostly collect deadwood (saproxylic) species?

Do you ever collect Microdon?

[colin12303]

I collect asilidae,i only catch the hoverflies and other diptera etc that i see and find interesting.I come across quite a lot of the mimics and am amazed how close they are to the real thing.
I have noticed one thing though.You see a lot more of the large males hovering high up early in the season,as soon as the migrant hawker dragonflies arrive they disappear.

[trehopr1]

I am not necessarily a fly enthusiast so much as I am someone who appreciates their myriad forms and habits. I generally like the families Tabanidae,Asilidae,Syrphidae,Tachinidae,and Oestridae. When I am out in the field I don't necessarily look for any of them --- they are mostly captured out of chance encounters. I adore large examples of any flies as well as bee-mimics and gnarly looking flies like those bristly Tachinids. I too have collected a timber fly (Panththalmus) in Ecuador in 1988. I also missed an extraordinarily large Sarcohagid fly which I spied while "on the hunt" in the Dominican Republic. It missed my net sweep but, I can tell you it was solidly every bit of one inch. long - plus... That friends is huge for a Sarcophagid fly ! I was so flustered by my miss that I hung around the spot for 20 min. hoping it would return. A lot of COOL flies out there....

[mothman27]

Does anyone know what species of Mydas fly this is?
Indiana, USA

Thanks,
Tim

[mothman27]

The previous picture is a Mydas clavatus.

I managed to catch this huge Mydas tibialis this year.