 | Signal Flies - Family Platystomatidae Noted for their elaborate mouthparts, these flies closely resemble those in the family Ulidiidae. Live adult signal flies photographed in the wild at Ogle and DuPage Counties, Illinois, USA. [Flies of North America Table of Contents] [Flies of North America Main Page Graphics] |
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Flies in the family Platystomatidae are commonly called "signal" flies, after their habit of constant motion, as if sending signals. [1] They are often confused with flies in the family Ulidiidae, the so-called picture-winged flies, which they very closely resemble. There are 41 described species in 4 genera in North America. They range in size from 3 to 12mm. |
This species of signal fly was very abundant in tall grass in a weedy field near the west branch of the DuPage River in Illinois. Size = 6mm
Signal Fly Rivellia sp. Size = 4mm. (My son bites his fingernails.)
This tiny fly was found in Ogle County, Illinois, near the Rock River
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