Picture-Winged Fly vs Flat-footed Scuttle Fly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Picture-Winged Fly | Flat-footed Scuttle Fly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Delphinia picta | Metopina oligoneura |
| Order | Diptera | Diptera |
| Family | Ulidiidae | Phoridae |
| Size | 5-8 mm | 1-2 mm |
| Habitat | Underground | Woodlands |
| Diet | Herbivores | Detritivores |
| Regions | North America | Europe, Asia |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Picture-Winged Fly
A small fly with beautifully patterned wings that it waves in display like tiny semaphore flags. The wing patterns may serve in species recognition and courtship.
Did You Know?
When walking, it continuously waves its patterned wings in a mesmerizing display, resembling a tiny insect conductor leading an orchestra.
Flat-footed Scuttle Fly
A minute brown phorid fly with broad flattened tarsi and reduced wing venation. It is associated with ant nests where it scavenges on refuse and dead ants.
Did You Know?
It lives inside ant colonies as a tolerated guest, feeding on the waste materials that ants discard in their refuse chambers.