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Arizona, United States
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Too good not to share!A large flower fly called an Apiocera sp. caught my attention two days ago on the Verticordia densiflora in Wandoo National Park, York.Photo: Jean
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Arizona, United States
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Stanthorpe, Queensland, Australia
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The insects were very quick today and seemed to mostly only let me get to 1.5metres from them before zooming away. This one did let me get a bit closer but didn't sit long enough to get a clear wing shot.
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This is a fly I saw for the first time
last year and again last week. It is a very shy fly and sits on the ground and hides under leaves and twigs. On certain angles the wings take on the most brilliant blue hue.
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Diptera Apiocera picaInterestingly today, this one was making a buzzing sound as it flew around and made interesting tail displays after it had landed.The wings on this one are interesting at original size. Pity the head wasn't in better focus.
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There have been some magnificent Apiocera flies (flower loving flies) on the Verticordia this yearThis was a fast flying small noisy fly which flew low to the ground and fed on the Verticordia lindleyi flowers. It also sat on the ground where it blended with the leaf and twig litter.An adaptation of this male in that its antennae were very long. The fly was able to adjust its antennae to feed from the flower. Photo: Fred
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Fred found an Apiocera fly laying eggs in soft sand. Located on the flood plain of Mortlock River East Branch, Cunderdin - 160 km east of Perth. These were flying, feeding and resting on small rises of warm, dry, mottled sand on the saline river bed.When she had finished, she brushed her hind legs to rearrange the sand over the hole where she had laid her eggs. Photo: Jean
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During the last week I have watched these 1 to 1.5cm flies fly from flower to flower, getting patted on the back with pollen each time. They then sat down on a stick rested a short while, then cleaned and ate the pollen. A very sneaky way to get a feed. Each flower was visited for less than a second in time. "A small family of mostly rather large flies, somewhat resembling Asilidae and Therevidae. The Australian members of the family were revised by Paramonov (1953), and the Australian fauna now consists of the single genus Apiocera with 67 described and many undescribed species (Yeates & Irwin 1996). Adult Apiocera are strong, noisy fliers, and occupy a wide range of habitats, from sea beaches and desert to forests at high altitudes; at least half of our known species are associated with relatively arid conditions. ..."
Atlas of Living Australia"Photo: Fred
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Flynn, Western Australia, Australia
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Too good not to share!A large flower fly called an Apiocera sp. caught my attention two days ago on the Verticordia densiflora in Wandoo National Park, York.Photo: Jean
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There have been some magnificent Apiocera flies (flower loving flies) on the Verticordia this year. This one was hiding on an old dried plant. I haven't seen this species before this but have seen it twice since this photo was taken. Photo: Jean
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This insect was flighty at first but settled down and let me take a few photos. Taken 80 kms south west of Perth near a small lake.
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Apiocera taken in 21 August 2008 on Butcher's Track in the Murchison.It's a tad blurry but is here for record purposes. Poor thing looks like it has been in the wars with very damaged wings.
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Fred found an Apiocera fly laying eggs in soft sand. Located on the flood plain of Mortlock River East Branch, Cunderdin - 160 km east of Perth. These were flying, feeding and resting on small rises of warm, dry, mottled sand on the saline river bed.Photo: Fred
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There have been some magnificent Apiocera flies (flower loving flies) on the Verticordia this yearThis one I class as a medium size for an Apiocera. It also had a brown colouration rather than the black and grey. The Apiocera often buzz loudly as they fly between flowers.
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Resting on sand around a wetland. Notice the different coloured pollen on its thorax. It has been visiting different Stylidium flowers and feeding on Verticordia flowers.Male fliesPhotos: Jean
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Girraween, Queensland, Australia
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2.5 cm long on Verticordia plantThe blue on the wings was only visible on certain angles. Photographed 80 kms SW of Perth Western Australia. Near a small lake. Low shrubs.
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Fred found an Apiocera fly laying eggs in soft sand. Located on the flood plain of Mortlock River East Branch, Cunderdin - 160 km east of Perth. These were flying, feeding and resting on small rises of warm, dry, mottled sand on the saline river bed.Photo: Fred
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This is a fly I saw for the first time
last year and again last week. It is a very shy fly and sits on the ground and hides under leaves and twigs. On certain angles the wings take on the most brilliant blue hue.