Learn about flies

I think this is Volucella inflata? Can anyone confirm? Many thanks. Photo was taken in Northmead Copse, Poole, Dorset on 9 June 2025.

Nick Woods

Please could someone tell me where I can find Mark Mitchell's key to Lauxaniidae?

I have a Calliopum that is evading identification. I believe it's a female, though it has a thin, bifid sternal projection that's puzzling me. I'll dissect it, but some decent diagrams or any extra information would help.

Can anyone identify this small fly for me please? Found in Norwich a couple of days ago. It's about 5mm long. I tried ObsIdentify but it kept saying it was Tachypeza nubila which I’m not sure is right. I'm sorry the photos are so bad - it was very mobile despite being kept in the fridge overnight. More information in the alt text and I can try and post higher resolution photos if necessary. Many thanks.

Hello!

I'm fairly new to diptera id, and have found the forum's intro to families key really useful. However I sometimes fall at the first hurdle of differentiating calyptrates and acalyptrates. I would love some general tips if anyone has any. I've also attached a photo of one of my classic confusions: does this count as a cleft in the 2nd antennal segment?! 

Any help would be greatly appreciated, thank you! 

George

This keyed out fairly easily to psychodidae, but it's lacking the classic pubescence. Can anyone see where I've gone wrong or are there some species that are just less hairy? Thanks!

This blackfly was caught in a moth trap 17/18th March in East Lothian. I have been trying to identify it. I think it is a Simulium species but cannot get further than that. Is anyone able to help from these photos ? Thankyou, Shelagh McDowall.

Apologies that in recent months the photo upload process was not working as it should have done. The process has now been updated, and there is some revised guidance on the Forums help page.

Hopefully that will enable you to add photos more easily but let me know if there are any problems.

Hi, Found this beautiful little fly on the kitchen window this morning. 

Looking at the dipterist gallery it looks like a female Ceratitis capitata, but just wanted to confirm the ID before recording. 

Hi,

I have been using RES Vol 9 part 3 to try and identify this Mycetophilidae caught in a light trap 5/6th Oct in East Lothian on a grassy strip next to mixed woodland. The key has taken me to genus Leia but I can't get any of the species to match. Can any one help ?

Shelagh McDowall 

Although I've been a member of Dipterists Forum for a number of years I've never had much time to look at flies.  Now I've semi-retired I'm starting to take a serious interest, but I'm an absolute beginner in the subject.

So, first of all, I am right in thinking this is a Sarcophaga species?  And secondly, are the creatures in the second picture the larvae?  I gather the young leave the body of the dead mother?