---

Photographed this fly on 25/03/2016 in Still bay, South Africa. Approximately 4 mm body length. Swollen back femora noted.

Any assistance with ID would be appreciated.

3 Photos:

Edit 1: Title edited to family after ID by John

---

Photo 2:

---

Photo 3:

---

Chloropidae

---

Thanks again John, much appreciated,

Best

Philip

---

Pachylophus

---

Thank you Dmitry, that is great.

Best

Philip

---

Chloropidae, Chloropinae: Pachylophus spec. is correct. Sword-like shaped arista, thickened hind femur and curved hind tibia. Identification may be possible using Deeming, J.C. (2018): A revision of the Afrotropical species of Pachylophus Loew (Diptera: Chloropidae) and some related Ovoviviparous genera. Zootaxa 4482(1): 1-51. Many species in tropical Africa, much less in the Palaearctic, Oriental and Australasian Regions. All species are ovoviviparous, possibly being an adaption to the short bioavailability of young grasses (for larval development) under the pressure of grazing by ruminant animals and long times of aridity. Simultaneously two large eggs are maturating and finally they fill the whole abdomen; they are born with the hind end first and the larval mouthparts are already well developed during egg deposition (observation of the writer).