Tessera

Dipterists Society

@dipterists.bsky.social

Our mission is to advance the scientific study, understanding, and appreciation of the insect order Diptera, or true flies. dipterists.org

21 Posts191 Follower 119 Folgt

Matt Bertone @bertonemyia.bsky.social · yesterday

Check out these flies! . . . And of course the amazing eyelash viper 😜 😂 🥰 #Ceratopogonidae #Viperidae: #Bothriechis supraciliaris #FlySchool2026 Costa Rica

A close up of a brown eyelash viper face showing a few blood-feeding biting midges.

A small brown viper wrapped around a small twig, facing down.

Matt Bertone @bertonemyia.bsky.social · 20h ago

The mint chocolate chip flavor of flies [I imagine] 😋 #Stratiomyidae: #Promeranisa #FlySchool2026 Costa Rica

A fly stands on a white background facing right. It is mint green with brown stripes on the thorax and a pointed face with long thick antennae.

Erica McAlister @flygirlnhm.bsky.social · 2d ago

A female Physoptera (Phoridae) showing off/advertising her presence, by releasing pheromones through her abdominal glands (the yellow stripes on her abdomen). As you can see they have reduced abdominal plates (tergites) that allow these glands to expand #FlySchool2026 @dipteracourse.bsky.social

Matt Bertone @bertonemyia.bsky.social · 2d ago

The hammerhead condition has evolved numerous times in flies, resulting in various flavors. Last time we found an extreme one (flic.kr/p/2qeN7Hz) but this example is a bit more tame (still lovely, though! ❤️) [Coll.: Khong Lunaria] #FlySchool2026 Costa Rica #Richardiidae: #Richardia cf. telescopica

A yellow and brown fly sits on a white background facing to the right toward the viewer. It has a broad and somewhat triangular head, about twice the width of the thorax.

A yellow and brown fly sits on a white background facing to left. It has a broad and somewhat triangular head, about twice the width of the thorax.

A yellow and brown fly sits on a white background facing away from the viewer. It has a broad and somewhat triangular head, about twice the width of the thorax.

Matt Bertone @bertonemyia.bsky.social · 3d ago

Some crane flies in the genus #Geranomyia produce a little gel nursery to develop on leaves in the tropics. There they graze on algae & other organic matter. The mass provides moisture (other spp. live in water/soil) & likely protects from predators. #Tipulidae #Limoniidae #FlySchool2026 Costa Rica

A jelly mass on the midrib of a long leaf contains a long translucent larva within

A close up of a long, worm-like, translucent larva curving around inside a clear jelly mass

A thick jelly mass on a leaf surface has a long crane fly pupa suspended within

Two greenish crane flies with long beaks mating on a leaf. The female is resting above, while the male contorts himself underneath, connected by their genitalia.

Erica McAlister @flygirlnhm.bsky.social · 5d ago

Afternoons lecture by Brian Brown at @dipteracourse.bsky.social #FlySchool2026 starts with Hypopygial circumversion in the higher flies Instead of the males being dragged along, their genitalia has rotated to offer them some dignity 🤓🤘

Erica McAlister @flygirlnhm.bsky.social · 5d ago

Lots of ‘whooping’ about the next lecture at #FlySchool2026 by @riccardi-p.bsky.social - genitalia preps ‘We use genitalia as its under positive selection’. @dipteracourse.bsky.social

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

Gold star for this silver soldier #fly 🌟 Diptera are seriously amazing 🤩 🥰 #Stratiomyidae: #Artemita argentea Soltis Center, Costa Rica @flygirlnhm.bsky.social @dipteracourse.bsky.social @riccardi-p.bsky.social

A fly covered with thick silver fur sits on a white background facing left. It's head is mostly red eyes with darker red squiggles, and it's wings are held out folder over each other sticking out the rear.

Erica McAlister @flygirlnhm.bsky.social · 4d ago

@bertonemyia.bsky.social asked his seven year old nephew to give common names to flies.. Do you agree? And can you name the actual families? #FlySchool2026 @dipteracourse.bsky.social @dipterists.bsky.social

Dipterists Society @dipterists.bsky.social · 4d ago

If you're enjoying these posts (and #flies 🪰 in general) please visit our website: dipterists.org You can become a member and find out how you can join Fly School in the future. We'd love to see you!

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

Sometimes you've gotta go metallic to mimic your model! This common tropical hover #fly at the top is a convincing mimic of the local orchid #bees in the genus #Euglossa (bottom). #FlySchool2026 #Syrphidae: #Ornidia obesa Soltis Center, Costa Rica

Two metallic green winged insects on a white background, one at the top and one at the bottom. The top one is a hover fly and the bottom is an orchid bee.

Matt Bertone @bertonemyia.bsky.social · 5d ago

Just a couple big-headed flies making more big-headed flies, which I appreciate so I can see more big-headed flies 😁 #Pipunculidae #FlySchool2026 Costa Rica [PS: Jim Hogue is about to wow us w/these flies & their close relatives the hover flies!] @flygirlnhm.bsky.social @dipteracourse.bsky.social

Two big-headed flies mating, the male on top of female. They on the end of a small twig with a black background and are facing right. They are dark, with evenly-spaced light gray patches on their abdomen. Their heads are massive and made up mostly of the eyes.

Dr. Viktor Baranov🧪🦟🐛🪲@swarmofthoughts.bsky.social · last wk.

I am pleased to announce, I will be a plenary speaker at the upcoming International Congress of Dipterology (#ICD2027), Zagreb icd11.biol.pmf.hr/program, closing a line up of amazing speakers incl @asrivathsan.bsky.social and Art Borkent @dipteristsforum.bsky.social @dipterists.bsky.social

Matt Bertone @bertonemyia.bsky.social · 7d ago

Be a dipterist. Be in Costa Rica for #FlySchool2026. See a muscoid #fly perching on a leaf. Tell student so they can collect it. Success!! Wait a minute 🤔 That's not a fly, but weevil mimicking one! This was so convincing, even rapidly moving & poking its wings out 🥰 #Curculionidae: cf. #Mnemynurus

A weevil with red around its neck, resembling the eyes of a fly. It has large brown eyes and a long yellow proboscis curving under the body. It's on a white background facing the viewer.

A weevil with red around its neck, resembling the eyes of a fly. It has large brown eyes and a long yellow proboscis curving under the body. The wing cover are mottled brown and white. It is on a white background facing left.

Matt Bertone @bertonemyia.bsky.social · last wk.

Spectacular catch on the 1st day of #FlySchool2026 by student Sangjin Han! This massive timber fly was flying around the lobby of the Soltis Center last night. At over 2"/5 cm this is the largest live fly I've ever seen 😳 Larvae bore in wood. Amazing! 🥰 #Pantophthalmidae: #Pantophthalmus Costa Rica

A large brown fly with yellow-tipped legs and pointy orange antennae sits facing right on a white background.

A large brown fly with yellow-tipped legs and pointy orange antennae sits facing right on a white background. A human finger is resting above it to show the large size.

A large brown fly with yellow-tipped legs and pointy orange antennae sits facing toward the viewer on a white background.

Erica McAlister @flygirlnhm.bsky.social · last wk.

And so it begins… #FlySchool2026 in Costa Rica. @dipteracourse.bsky.social tutors include @bertonemyia.bsky.social @riccardi-p.bsky.social @dsamorim.bsky.social, Giar-Ann, Jim Hogue and Greg Dahlem and myself. Heading to the jungle…

Colin Purrington @colinpurrington.bsky.social · 2w ago

Dozens of these tiny flies were swarming around an Achillea millefolium in my yard. Can anyone help ID? I'm assuming Cecidomyiidae but not positive. #diptera #insects #inaturalist #yarrow www.inaturalist.org/observations...

Pale red fly with long legs resting on a small white inflorescence.

Ainsley S @americanbeetles.bsky.social · 2w ago

It's true, what could be better than being a fly, though? I mean, look at them

A lovely diopsid stalk-eyed fly as photographed by Nicky Bay, its raspberry-red eyes pointing off in two wildly opposing directions

Celyphid beetle-mimic fly from iNat, photographed by Roman Prokhorov

the odinid fly Traginops irroratus, bugguide photo by Walter B. Klockers

Tachinid fly in the genus Rutilia, from the fantastic BrisbaneInsects.com

jordan@jordantyranny.bsky.social · 2w ago

“I have discovered I am a fly, that we are all flies, that nothing matters. It's a great load off my life, for I don't mind being such a micro-organism-to me the honour is sufficient of belonging to the universe-such a great universe, so grand a scheme of things.”

Craig B @mutillidae.bsky.social · 3w ago

Wacky Wingless Wonder Wednesday #PhantasticPhorid #NaturalHistoryCollections #Macrophotography #FocusStacking #I'mNotProcrastinatingYouAre

Lateral view of a very small phorid fly against a white background. The wings are two short pads with a dozen or so long bristles extending from each. The body is tannish overall; the head and thorax are brown. The palps are quite large and there are more long erect bristles on the head.

Anakin and Padme four-panel meme, as follows:
upper left, Anakin: Flies have two wings
upper right, Padme: All flies, right?
lower left, Anakin: [knowing smile]
lower right, Padme: ...right?

D. Allan Drummond @dadrummond.art · 3w ago

Mydas fly!! Not a wasp, a huge black iridescent orange-spotted monster slurping on swamp milkweed. Plant native plants…never know who’ll show up 😳

Erica McAlister @flygirlnhm.bsky.social · 4w ago

We gave thanks & celebration on Monday for Peter Chandler - an extraordinary man, a great dipterist & a kind & generous spirit Check out the 10 year old Peter’s answers in his I-Spy entomology book- they made me smile & feel grateful to have known such a great man @dipteristsforum.bsky.social

Richard Moyse @kentgrasshoppers.bsky.social · last mo.

Gymnosoma rotundatum - a nice addition to the garden list today. Unless you're a shieldbug. #KentNature #flies #Diptera

A mid-sized fly with a rounded, orange abdomen with black spots, golden-brown dusting on the front of the thorax, and a golden face with brown eyes.

Craig B @mutillidae.bsky.social · last mo.

If one wanted to post an image for #FlyDay or #FlyFriday and it’s only Monday, can one use the hashtag #MondayMurderFly instead? Asking for a friend… #Asilidae #Laphriafernaldi #PhonePic #Colorado

Dorsal view of a large fuzzy robber fly perched on a rough piece of grey and brown bark. It is doing its best to mimic a bumble bee with its yellow and orange fuzzy body.

Marshal Hedin @mhedin.bsky.social · last mo.

robber flies are always wringing their little foretarsi together .... "who shall I capture next ...."

Erica McAlister @flygirlnhm.bsky.social · last mo.

Well @dipteristsforum.bsky.social - huge amount of info about UK species Or @dipterists.bsky.social - huge amount of info about global species (with a north american bent) and specifically for Doli's - there is the new @royentsoc.bsky.social publication www.royensoc.co.uk/shop/publica...

Ian Andrews @suillia.bsky.social · last mo.

Leptometopa latipes (Milichiidae)...2-3mm freeloader fly. Seem to be few records nationally, but conservative estimate of 5000 today at Bempton Cliffs, where I suspect they associate with seabird guano. They were all over the cliff edge hand rails! @dipteristsforum.bsky.social @ynuorg.bsky.social

🌴 Scott Zona, Ph.D. 🌴@scottzona.bsky.social · last mo.

What pollinates Pelargonium species? Long-proboscid bees & flies pollinate about 85% of the species. This extraordinary photo by Marie Delport (CCBYNC4) shows Psilodera valida (#Diptera: Acroceridae) targeting the small flowers of P. odoratissimum. #Geraniaceae #pollination #Botany 🌾🧪🌱

Close-up photo of a fly in flight with its long proboscis extended, hovering over the small white flower of a Pelargonium.

Dr Jill Whitelock @jillwhitelock.bsky.social · last mo.

Day 30, #30DaysWild. Fly time. #Diptera

A Greenbottle on Mexican fleabane in the garden, in evening light.

Frederik Seelig @frederikseelig.bsky.social · last mo.

Great cartoon by @lynnihsu.bsky.social y.social in @newyorker.com. Enjoy the beautiful outdoors this summer, but stay protected against #ticks, #flies & #mosquitos! (And yes, some mozzies go for the ankles while ticks may prefer soft skin around the neck!)🕷️ 🪰 🦟 www.newyorker.com/cartoon/a62050

Kat Dahl @wildkatdahl.bsky.social · last mo.

One of Britain’s most awesome predators is out and about💥🥳 (rather early in the year 😬). This magnificent Hornet Robberfly has impaled a fly on his impressive piercing mouthparts. 📷 Amberley Downs #asiluscrabroniformis #bugsky #ukflies @uk-soldierflies.bsky.social @dipteristsforum.bsky.social

A very large, brown, bristly fly with a yellow lower abdomen, sitting on grass, with a black fly impaled on its large piercing mouthparts.

Temple Balsall @templebalsall.bsky.social · last mo.