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Matt Bertone

@bertonemyia.bsky.social

Entomologist passionate about flies, beetles, spiders, mites... Also macro photography. Director & diagnostician at NC State Plant Disease and Insect Clinic. Opinions are my own. He/him Raleigh, NC, USA https://www.flickr.com/photos/76790273@N07/

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Matt Bertone@bertonemyia.bsky.social · 4d ago

Back in civilization after 2 weeks in the Costa Rican jungle. It was an amazing experience full of spectacular flies (+other creatures) as well as a truly wonderful group of students & instructors. The memories made will last a lifetime. ☺️ 🥰 Can't wait for the next #Diptera adventure! #FlySchool2026

frit fly (Chloropidae: Acanthopeltastes) A small shiny black fly sits on a white backgroundfacing the viewer. Its wings are spread and it has four large spines coming out of the rear of the thorax.mantis shore fly (Ephydridae: Ochthera) A grayish black fly with large mantis-like forelegs sits on a white background facing left.horse fly (Tabanidae) A golden brown fly with a huge head made up of mostly eyes sits on a white background facing right, waving its front legs out.stilt-legged fly (Micropezidae) A thin black fly with long legs and a bright red head and striped eyes sits on a white background facing right, waving around its front legs.
Matt Bertone@bertonemyia.bsky.social · 5d ago

Not only are #Periscelididae very cute, some of the less spectacular-looking spp. are hypnotic dancers 💃🕺 #Stenomicra shuffles back & forth, easily gliding across surfaces. This large genus is found in the tropics often on banana leaves, etc. #FlySchool2026 Costa Rica 📽️: Nolan Lake [more ⬇️]

Matt Bertone@bertonemyia.bsky.social · 6d ago

OK I thought Scutops was cute, but OMG #NEOscutops is amazing! 😍 I'm now convinced #Periscelididae is, per species, the weirdest family of flies (more evidence from another genus to drop later). #FlySchool2026 Costa Rica [And yes, @americanbeetles.bsky.social, it's cool partly because of beetle]

Matt Bertone@bertonemyia.bsky.social · 6d ago

OK I thought Scutops was cute, but OMG #NEOscutops is amazing! 😍 I'm now convinced #Periscelididae is, per species, the weirdest family of flies (more evidence from another genus to drop later). #FlySchool2026 Costa Rica [And yes, @americanbeetles.bsky.social, it's cool partly because of beetle]

A small round beetle-like fly with a shiny black body and bright red head walks on a leaf. Dorsal view. A small round beetle-like fly with a shiny black body and bright red head walks on a leaf. Lateral view facing left. A small round beetle-like fly with a shiny black body and bright red head walks on a leaf. Lateral view facing right. A small round beetle-like fly with a shiny black body and bright red head sits on a white background. Lateral view facing left.
Matt Bertone@bertonemyia.bsky.social · last wk.

Officially the cutest fly I've ever seen 🥰 😍 It was a target genus of mine & Ezra Bailey was kind enough to save her live specimen for me to photograph [we've been lucky to see more since]. They mostly run around rather than fly. SQUEEEEEEE!!!! #Periscelididae: #Scutops #FlySchool2026 Costa Rica

A small dwarf fly sits on a leaf facing right. It has a yellow stripe down its back and dark wings folded over the abdomen like a little beetle. Its face is pointed into a small whit blunt nose. It's eyes are red with a couple light stripes.
Matt Bertone@bertonemyia.bsky.social · 7d ago

Love this from #FlySchool2026 student @toldentops.bsky.social! 🥰 #Lauxaniidae is one of the most diverse acalyptrate #fly families. Larvae are associated w/leaf litter, thus super abundant/diverse in forests. They are HIGHLY variable so every time a student finds one they think it's a new family 😂

Plate showing variety of flies in the family Lauxaniidae specimens.A yellow fly with striped eyes sits on a leaf and waves at the camera.A dark fly with half black wings, the tips, sits on a leaf.A gray fly with large eyes stands tall on a leaf.
Team Diptera 🪰🔍🦟🌻@teamdiptera.bsky.social · last wk.

Oooh, is that a new acalyptrate? NOPE. LAUXANIID. Thanks to @toldentops.bsky.social for sharing this #FlySchool meme with all of #TeamDiptera! 🪰✨

Meme with a Lauxaniid fly, top text: you think you got a different acalyptrate? WRONG!!!! bottom text: Its another Lauxaniid!!!! add it to the pile!!!!