Thread subject: Diptera.info :: Huge fly from South Africa, please help with ID.
Posted by vida on 22-05-2017 09:23
#1
I photographed this very large fly (body length more or less 50mm) at the Pilanesberg Game Reserve in South Africa.
I have never seen such a large fly before and would any appreciate help with an ID.
Posted by Tony Irwin on 22-05-2017 14:35
#2
Coenomyiidae? (though the antenna don't look quite right).
Posted by John Carr on 22-05-2017 15:24
#3
Did you get a picture of the wing veins?
Posted by vida on 22-05-2017 15:30
#4
Thank you Tony and John. I will post more photos when I get home. There seemed to be something wrong with the fly. I found it sitting on a wall in the evening and it did not fly away when I got close.
Posted by Stephane Lebrun on 22-05-2017 19:51
#5
Looks like the giant Gasterophilidae
Gyrostigma rhinocerontis....
Posted by vida on 22-05-2017 20:20
#6
Yes! Thank you Stephane. It is definitely a
Gyrostigma rhinocerontis
I wish I got better photos but the fly was too large for my usual MP E 65mm macro lens and I had to use a 180mm macro without proper flash diffusion.
It is quite fitting that I found it in the Black Rhino Game Reserve (a part of the Pilanesberg Game Reserve). Glad it is a Rhino bot fly and not a human bot fly!:o
Posted by Stephane Lebrun on 22-05-2017 20:32
#7
Impressive botfly indeed !
It would be nice to have this fly in the gallery !
Posted by vida on 22-05-2017 20:45
#8
I will submit it for inclusion in the gallery. I also tried to take a couple of handheld focus stacks of the face (with my 65mm macro) but I must stil process it to see if it was a success. Thanks again for the ID.