Peacock fly

This is a message to my from my friend, biologist Lynn Faust:

Just for fun, am sending you this photo of a cool little fly that put on quite a show for me last May near (not in) the traps in the Smokies. He landed on the roof of my car and proceeding to fan his wings like a peacock and slowly turn and preen. Every time I scared him off with my camera, he circled and returned and spread his wings again. This went on for 30 minutes until I finally needed to leave. I never saw another fly (female) so it was as if he(?) was displaying for me. Of course I did not know what type of fly he was at the time, but just on a guess, googled “peacock fly” and found very similar photos in the Tephritidae family. So, I am asking nothing, just sharing this fun photo since you love flies. Sorry it is not a phorid! Lynn Faust

peacock-fly

Actually, it is a ulidiid, not a tephritid, and a very entertaining one! Thanks, Lynn.

5 comments on “Peacock fly

  1. ruud van der weele says:

    It looks very much like a Callopistromyia annulipes. In the gallery of diptera.info are many nice photos of this fly.

  2. No doubts, Rudi is right, Callopistromyia annulipes (Ulidiidae: Otitinae: Myennidini)!

  3. marksolock says:

    Reblogged this on Mark Solock Blog.

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