Thread subject: Diptera.info :: Help Identifying Diptera with very unusual marking

Posted by Chougs on 29-01-2020 02:50
#1

Hi Everyone and thank you Paul for allowing me on your very interesting and informative site.
I would like to know if someone could hep me identifying this Diptera with very unusual marking.
I leave in Australia an hour south of Sydney,I took this picture a little more than 5 years ago in Sydney's west near the blue mountains(about an hour and a half drive from Sydney).On my way to pick up my car from the work's car park at the time.
This very unusual fly caught my attention,I had a pocket size canon digital camera at the time,after taking a few blured pictures,the one you see is the best shot .After spending hours at the time in search for what specie it might be(as you know there's over 30000 here in Australia and probably not all is known )and unsuccessful inquiries I gave up searching until I recently notice the "Diptera info"site;
So if someone has an idea I would be happy to hear it.
Few infos of my observations;
-The Diptera size is the same as a tachinid fly
-The unusual marking on it's back is not dirt or some white dust
-The marking(which to me looks like a ghostly figure or panda) is symmetrical and smooth therefore can not
result in dirt residue.
Thanks everyone

Edited by Chougs on 29-01-2020 03:00

Posted by Paul Beuk on 29-01-2020 09:14
#2

It looks like a calliphorid fly but to put a name it it is way beyond my knowledge. The white markings probably are not the markings of the fly itself. I assume it picked up some kind of dust somewhere. Even though it looks a bit too white for pollen it could even be that.

Posted by Tony Irwin on 29-01-2020 10:03
#3

It's a Calliphora species - and the white stuff is almost certainly pollen.

Posted by Chougs on 30-01-2020 05:14
#4

Thank you Paul and Tony for your reply,I forgot to mention in my observation whilst I was trying to get the pictures that it was not pollen on it's back as it would have left some "grain like" particles and not the smooth patern you see.
Thanks again for your help!
Chougs