Fly ID please

Discussion:

Fly ID please

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Michael J Davis

2015-10-14 15:48:01 UTC

On September 5th I saw these flies dancing over a plant at the edge of a
lake (by a river in Rochdale):-
https://www.flickr.com/photos/watchman/21066988618/

I thought that I would easily find them in Collins complete British
Insects. But I can't find any fly that has antennae twice as long as the
body. Or am I misreading?

So help, please!

Then, a month later (October 1st) I see more dancing flies in the
setting sunlight in our garden (no water in the vicinity):
https://www.flickr.com/photos/watchman/22000018481/

Not such a good photo, but I don't think they are quite the same. Long
and spindly. Again not clear ID from various books.

Thanks for any help.

Mike

--
Michael J Davis
<><

Malcolm Ogilvie

2015-10-17 15:29:43 UTC

Permalink

I've asked a neighbour who is into flies (!) and will let you know what he says.

Malcolm

Post by Michael J Davis
On September 5th I saw these flies dancing over a plant at the edge of a
lake (by a river in Rochdale):-
https://www.flickr.com/photos/watchman/21066988618/
I thought that I would easily find them in Collins complete British
Insects. But I can't find any fly that has antennae twice as long as the
body. Or am I misreading?
So help, please!
Then, a month later (October 1st) I see more dancing flies in the
https://www.flickr.com/photos/watchman/22000018481/
Not such a good photo, but I don't think they are quite the same. Long
and spindly. Again not clear ID from various books.
Thanks for any help.
Mike

Malcolm Ogilvie

2015-10-17 20:27:52 UTC

Permalink

I've hadesponse which confirms that the first photo is of mayflies, but goes on to say
that there are far more species than are shown in the Collins guide and that
identification is only possible by looking at specimens under a microscope!

Malcolm

Post by Malcolm Ogilvie
I've asked a neighbour who is into flies (!) and will let you know what he says.
Malcolm

Malcolm Ogilvie

2015-10-18 09:10:10 UTC

Permalink

He originally thought they were mayflies, but now says they are caddisflies, some of which
are noted for having very long antennae. They are a difficult group to pin down to
species.

Malcolm

Post by Malcolm Ogilvie
I've asked a neighbour who is into flies (!) and will let you know what he says.
Malcolm

Asha Santon

2015-10-18 10:59:00 UTC

Permalink

Post by Malcolm Ogilvie
He originally thought they were mayflies, but now says they are caddisflies, some of which
are noted for having very long antennae. They are a difficult group to pin down to
species.
Malcolm
On Sat, 17 Oct 2015 16:29:43 +0100, Malcolm Ogilvie

Post by Malcolm Ogilvie
I've asked a neighbour who is into flies (!) and will let you know what he says.
Malcolm
On Wed, 14 Oct 2015 16:48:01 +0100, Michael J Davis

i'd suspect caddis flies too. Telling one from another isn't something
I'd attempt but as a group they are reasonably distinctive.

--
AS
http://nature.opcop.org.uk
I knew the Triffids were real when I saw the signs
Caution: Heavy plant crossing

Nogood Boyo

2015-10-19 22:31:35 UTC

Permalink

Post by Malcolm Ogilvie
He originally thought they were mayflies, but now says they are
caddisflies, some of which
are noted for having very long antennae. They are a difficult group to pin down to
species.
Malcolm
On Sat, 17 Oct 2015 16:29:43 +0100, Malcolm Ogilvie

Post by Malcolm Ogilvie
I've asked a neighbour who is into flies (!) and will let you know what he says.
Malcolm
On Wed, 14 Oct 2015 16:48:01 +0100, Michael J Davis

i'd suspect caddis flies too. Telling one from another isn't something I'd
attempt but as a group they are reasonably distinctive.

Yes, the first are definitely caddis flies (Trichoptera, commonly known by
anglers as "sedges"). If they'd been one of the mayflies (Ephemeroptera),
they'd have had two or three tails.

Probably (I'm told by an angling colleague who's well into entomology) one
of the family Leptoceridae; of which there are 31 UK species and all have
very long antennae (at least twice the length of the fore wing).

Best he can do with the second photograph is that it's possibly some form of
gnat (Diptera)

--
Nogood Boyo

Michael J Davis

2015-10-28 13:12:25 UTC

Permalink

Post by Nogood Boyo

i'd suspect caddis flies too. Telling one from another isn't something I'd
attempt but as a group they are reasonably distinctive.

Yes, the first are definitely caddis flies (Trichoptera, commonly known by
anglers as "sedges"). If they'd been one of the mayflies (Ephemeroptera),
they'd have had two or three tails.
Probably (I'm told by an angling colleague who's well into entomology) one
of the family Leptoceridae; of which there are 31 UK species and all have
very long antennae (at least twice the length of the fore wing).
Best he can do with the second photograph is that it's possibly some form of
gnat (Diptera)

Thank you both! Makes sense!

I realise that while I'm v. familiar with caddis larvae, it's a bit of a
shock to discover I don't know the adults when I see them!

Yes, I think the garden ones could be diptera, though some seem to have
four wings...

Mike

--
Michael J Davis
<><

Michael J Davis

2015-10-28 13:08:24 UTC

Permalink

Thanks Malcolm - I'll check that out!

(Wrong time of year for Mayflies?)!

Mike

Post by Malcolm Ogilvie
He originally thought they were mayflies, but now says they are
caddisflies, some of which
are noted for having very long antennae. They are a difficult group to pin down to
species.
Malcolm

Post by Malcolm Ogilvie
On Wed, 14 Oct 2015 16:48:01 +0100, Michael J Davis

Mike

--
Michael J Davis
<><

Nogood Boyo

2015-10-19 22:38:42 UTC

Permalink

Post by Malcolm Ogilvie
I've asked a neighbour who is into flies (!) and will let you know what he says.
Malcolm

Why the exclamation mark? Is entomology any more strange than ornithology?
Loads of anglers are into entomology.

Ah, I get it... Sorry, you might think of zips, but I think of mayflies and
sedges and stoneflies, etc. Identifying flies and then "matching the hatch"
is a great part of flyfishing.

--
Nogood Boyo