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hello,
yesterday, I have found this Pollenia alive without head. this fly doesn't fly, but walk and jump.
today, she is always alive. I catch it and put it in a box.
what do you think about this incredible thing ?
jean-claude
24 02 2008
near brest (france)
6mm (without head !)

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second pic
front view

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It's a cruel world ... :|

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if anyone believes in reincarnation (in another animals) this fly can be the decapitated Louis XVI. :D

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We don't have a category for that, do we Paul? :o :D

PS: it's a male.... typical?.... B)

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Once I tried to catch a very fast flying dragonfly (Odonata) with my dipteranet. After several futile attempts, suddenly I got it after a good and firm swing.
Looking inside my net I found the poor creature, decapitated! It seemed dead. :(
I took it in my hand and after a few seconds... it suddenly tried to fly away... :o
It scared the hell out of me! :D

I never found the head to mend this broken heart. :(

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I have a reponse from a french entomologist professor. the head is hiding in the thorax. he can see the flat eyes and the palp.
conclusion : malformation.
jean-claude

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In that case, I'm very puzzled as to how the fly managed to emerge from its puparium! All the "higher" flies make use of the ptilinum which they inflate to push off the end of the puparium. Without it, the fly would be trapped and unable to escape. I don't believe this fly can have had an effective ptilinum without a fully formed head.
I suggest that all Pollenia look like this when their head is removed. (Have just decapitated a dead Calliphora - looks very similar.)