Sciaridae sp. (family)

4 Black fungus gnat at Molonglo Valley, ACT

Sciaridae sp. (family) at Molonglo Valley, ACT - 12 Oct 2021
Sciaridae sp. (family) at Molonglo Valley, ACT - 12 Oct 2021
Sciaridae sp. (family) at Molonglo Valley, ACT - 12 Oct 2021
Sciaridae sp. (family) at Molonglo Valley, ACT - 12 Oct 2021
Sciaridae sp. (family) at Molonglo Valley, ACT - 12 Oct 2021
Request use of media

Identification history

Sciaridae sp. (family) 5 Jul 2023 MichaelMulvaney
Sciaridae sp. (family) 14 Oct 2021 CathB

Identify this sighting


Please Login or Register to identify this sighting.

User's notes

The main image is the middle one in a sequence showing a fly carrying pollinia leaving a flower of Hymenochilus bicolor. I was trying to photograph the second fly, on the left in images 2 and 3, when this one just popped out, walked to the top and then took off.

4 comments

michaelb wrote:
   14 Oct 2021
Very interesting Cath. I wonder if @RogerF has an explanation?
CathB wrote:
   14 Oct 2021
Hi Michael. Sciarid gnats are known to pollinate these orchids and I have recorded them before (sighting 4350348), although they were identified as Mycetophilidae in that sighting. Perhaps @TobiasHayashi might have a comment. The second fly looks different and may have just been resting there.
TobiasHayashi wrote:
   14 Oct 2021
Nice sighting! Sciarids are indeed pollinators of these species, I've actually got a paper in review at the moment in which we document the pollination of Hymenochilus cycnocephalus by sexual deception of male Bradysia sp. gnats. Happy to forward the paper to you when its published if you like Cath. Identification beyond family is not possible without detailed examination of specimens.
CathB wrote:
   14 Oct 2021
Thanks Tobias. Yes, I would like to see the paper when it's available.

Please Login or Register to comment.

Location information

Sighting information

  • 1 - 3 Abundance
  • 12 Oct 2021 02:44 PM Recorded on
  • CathB Recorded by

Additional information

  • Hymenochilus bicolor Associated plant
  • Less than 5mm Animal size
  • Male Gender

Species information

Record quality

  • Images or audio
  • More than one media file
  • Confirmed by an expert moderator
  • Nearby sighting(s) of same species
  • GPS evidence of location
  • Description
  • Additional attributes
2,152,973 sightings of 19,940 species in 6,475 locations from 11,410 contributors
CCA 3.0 | privacy
We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of this land and acknowledge their continuing connection to their culture. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present.