Anthomyia medialis

A root maggot fly at Lilli Pilli, NSW

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Identification history

Anthomyia medialis	25 Jan 2025	MichaelMulvaney
Limnophora (genus)	17 Jan 2025	MichaelMulvaney
Unidentified	23 Oct 2022	bevegeia

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User's notes

a striking pale blue and black banded fly, interrupted crossbanding on abdomen, solid bands on thorax. 6 mm long (head to tail). Feeding on scat with wings folded flat over the abdomen; wings clear with no markings. Pale blue face with large purple-brown eyes. Habit like a syrphid or stratiomyid at rest. Only this single observation despite keeping a regular watch for reappearance. Unable to match with any reference material available to me (ALA, I-Nat, SCNM, CNM, internet). Would request identification if possible.

3 comments

bevegeia wrote:

17 Jan 2025

Thanks NaturMapr and through you Michael Mulvaney for this suggestion. I don’t think it is Limnophora – this lacks the strong blue banding on the thorax of my fly and the limited distribuion data in the ALA makes it unlikely for my location. I have since determined this fly as Anthomyia medialis Anthomiidae and have submitted it to ALA on this basis; it is a strong match on both physical traits and distribution.
I would value any further opinions on this.
Bevegia

MichaelMulvaney wrote:

25 Jan 2025

Thanks Bevegeia - I agree with your suggestion thanks for persevering with this

bevegeia wrote:

25 Jan 2025

Thanks Michael for confirmation.

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Location information

Places Lilli Pilli, NSW

Sighting information

1 Abundance
bevegeia Recorded by
Collections
bevegeia NatureMapr South Coast Other true flies True flies (Diptera) Insects

Additional information

not on plant. Feeding on fresh (overnight) scat of brush-tailed possum. Associated plant
several Pogonortalis doclea also feeding on scats Associated Insect
5mm to 12mm Animal size
Unknown Gender
Alive / healthy Animal health
N/A Bird behaviour at hollow

Species information

Anthomyia medialis Scientific name
A root maggot fly Common name
Not Sensitive
Local native
Non-invasive or negligible
Up to 34.7m Recorded at altitude
Machine learning

Record quality

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