Diptera - The Flies
Horse Fly
Diptera:Tabanidae
This fly is in the same family as the deer fly. This one is much larger than the deer fly, and I can't imagine getting a bite from this fly. These are very active flies, and one reason I was able to capture this image was because it was a very cold day, and the ambient temperature was too low for this fly to be able to fly. Insects are cold blooded, meaning that their temperature will be about the same as the air temperature. If the air temperature falls below approximately 40 F, most insects can't fly, and they become excellent photo subjects.
Raleigh, NC USA.
September 2009.
Leftovers
Diptera: Calliphoridae
Flies always seem to be hungry. This one landed on my empty plate while my wife and I enjoyed dinner on the front porch, on a nice warm summer day. It started to lick the edge of the plate. The colorful background is the plate.
Raleigh, NC USA, summer 2009.
Ocyptamus Sp.
Diptera: Syrphidae
This hover fly feeds on aphids. I collected some of the fly pupae from a Milkweed plant. I waited for this fly to emerge from the puparium and then took this photo.
Raleigh, NC, USA Summer 2010