Milichiidae (family)
1 Freeloader fly at Dunlop, ACT
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| Milichiidae (family) | DiBickers | 5 May 2025 | |
| Unverified | CathB | 10 Mar 2020 |
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User's notes
Large numbers of these small black flies attracted to this orchid. The flowers were newly opened and rain was approaching. No pollinia seen, but with so much activity they would probably have all been removed before I got there. Nearby Corunastylis clivicola only had occasional visits from similar sized flies, although I didn't get good photos. A second species of fly is shown in the accompanying sighting (4252459).
1 comment
5 May 2025
I’m not particularly good with Fly ID’s, but these look like Freeloader Flies.
If so, they are considered kleptoparasites of predatory invertebrates and I’ve often found them helping themselves to a free feed on the spider’s dead/dying prey.
Apparently some Orchards are known to use prey/carrion mimicry (kleptomyiophily) to attract kleptoparastic flies to pollinate their flowers. I have attached a link to the article if you’d like to have a read😊
https://nossa.org.au/2015/07/24/orchid-pollination-strategy-for-corunastylis-littoralis-part-one-of-two-part-summary-excerpts/
If so, they are considered kleptoparasites of predatory invertebrates and I’ve often found them helping themselves to a free feed on the spider’s dead/dying prey.
Apparently some Orchards are known to use prey/carrion mimicry (kleptomyiophily) to attract kleptoparastic flies to pollinate their flowers. I have attached a link to the article if you’d like to have a read😊
https://nossa.org.au/2015/07/24/orchid-pollination-strategy-for-corunastylis-littoralis-part-one-of-two-part-summary-excerpts/
Location information
- Coordinates 149.074218-35.267390
- Altitude 584.6m
- Maps Mount Painter
- Places Dunlop, ACT
Sighting information
- 16 - 100 Abundance
- 8 Mar 2020 04:42 PM Recorded on
- CathB Recorded by
- Corunastylis cornuta Associated plant
- 5mm to 12mm Animal size
Collections
- My flagged sightings CathB NatureMapr Canberra & Southern Tablelands Milichiidae (family) Other true flies True flies (Diptera) Insects
Species information
- Milichiidae (family) Scientific name
- Freeloader fly Common name
- Not Sensitive
- Local native
- Non-invasive or negligible
- Up to 784.8m Recorded at altitude
- External link More information
Record quality
Quality score
7 / 7
- Images or audio
- More than one media file
- Verified by an expert moderator
- Nearby sighting(s) of same species
- GPS evidence of location
- Description
- Additional attributes