Posted by Sundew on 08-07-2016 03:13
#1
Hi,
Yesterday evening I saw this tiny fly on a graffiti-covered wall (that was close to the Teltow canal, but that might be of no importance). It tolerated the flash and just flew off now and then to return to the wall immediately and sitting there head-down. Dusk, dark ground, and the fly's tininess led to unsatisfying pictures. I would like to show them nevertheless, as I have no idea where to place this little beauty. It showed a peculiar shine (dusting?) of the lateral thorax, and the lower side of the scutellum looked especially beautiful in the flashlight, shimmering in pearlescent pink.
Thanks for any help, Sundew
Edited by Sundew on 08-07-2016 18:28
Posted by Tony Irwin on 08-07-2016 17:25
#2
Almost certainly
Coenosia atra. The pearlescent pink bit is, I think, the alula or squama of the wing, rather than the scutellum. Pink reflections can be seen in the wing in the other shots.
Posted by Sundew on 08-07-2016 18:28
#3
No doubt - it is! In another picture there is also a trace of the close together ad and av on t3 visible. However, I did not find any pictures of
C. atra showing a yellow ventral side of the abdomen. So mine seems to be a very fat female. And its alulae seem to be more or less erect, thus producing a very nice reflection of the flash in all lateral shots. Many thanks, dear Tony.